Letter #1
There has
been a development since my last e-mail. The problems in the
earthquake hit areas have exacerbated. It is raining and there
are more mud slides and the after shocks are bringing more
structures down. To deal with the immediate problem, and by this
I mean for the winter, we (a small group of us working with the
Omar Asghar Khan Foundation and SUNGI) have a plan to provide
communities with shelter and food in an organized and systematic
way. We are looking at setting up tent villages for those who
have lost their homes. It will involve bringing people down from
the mountains to lower safer and more accessible areas and house
them in one of these units.
Each unit
would consist of:
50 tents,
housing approximately 400 people. together with local style
toilet facilities and septic tanks to treat the waste and
prevent contamination and disease. One Time Cost Rs. 400,000
A community
tent that would be multi purpose, serving as a kitchen to feed
the community, a medical center, school, mosque etc. It will
have a 2.5 kva generator. One Time Cost Rs. 200,000
Logistics
and Miscellaneous. One Time Cost Rs. 100,000
Total Rs.
700,000
There will
be a monthly recurring cost to feed people. In addition there is
the cost of providing doctors and basic medical aid. The corn
has been harvested but much of it has been lost in the quake.
This cost will be anything up to Rs. 700,000 depending on the
contributions each community can make in terms of food stuff
and other contributions (financial and manpower).
In addition
each unit needs 400 blankets and 400 2 inch foam mattresses.
Ali Asghar
Khan has already located one community, who's village is in a
very precarious state on the verge of falling down the mountain.
He has moved them to a field for safety. We, our small group,
have funded the first tented village unit and it should be in
place and operational on Monday, October 17. This is only one
unit and we need to do many many more. We are trying to do up to
10 a day before the winter sets in. BUT NEED HELP. Ali is
continuing to work with the communities, moving them to land,
close to a water source, which he will get from the government
for short term use...i.e. the winter. In the spring we need to
push the government to dip in to all the aid that has come in
and help the villagers return to their land and rebuild their
lives.
I have been
pledged 572 tents and should have delivery by Thursday at the
latest. This is 11 more units.
If anyone
would like to replicate this plan in areas where they are
working we can supply all the details.
If you can
help please do.
Letter 2
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A German lawyer friend of mine sent me information
on Chinese army tents. The information was provided
by a client of his and I think if an order is places
it would be through the client.
The tents are 6m x 6m or 4m x 8m. They are
winterized and cost 250 Euros each. They have 5000
tents for immediate delivery and can deliver another
10,000 in a week.
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