Diadem International partners with the Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Trust (SBMT) in Pakistan, established after the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti and the Missione of Shahbaz Onlus (Italy). During the last 2 years of Shahbaz Bhatti’s life, Diadem International partnered with the Late Shahbaz Bhatti, with flood relief efforts, and economical empowerment for women with a small home industry.
During the last 2 years of Shahbaz Bhatti’s life, Diadem International partnered with the Late Shahbaz Bhatti, with flood relief efforts, and economical empowerment for women with a small home industry.
During the last 2 years of Shahbaz Bhatti’s life, Diadem International partnered with the Late Shahbaz Bhatti, with flood relief efforts, and economical empowerment for women with a small home industry.
FLOOD RELIEF IN KOTRI, JAMSHORO DISTRICT, IN SINDH PROVINCE
(Update October 2010)
I first heard about the floods in Pakistan in August 2010 when I read it in the news. My heart broke as reports of the devastation, loss, despair, hopelessness and destruction poured in, and how badly the floods had affected the people. Pictures in the news or newspaper showed land, crops, homes, infrastructure completely destroyed by the raging waters, people crying because they had lost their homes and family, and children in shock at the sudden disaster that hit them. I wanted to do something to help, but didn’t know where to start.
Karo Kho and Piary ke Goath
In early October, Safraz and I took a trip down to Karachi with the intention to assess some of the flood-affected areas 3-4 hours away from Karachi. The flood in Sindh was the most recent in the series of floods which have swept across Pakistan. We had 2 brothers with us, Khadim and Javed from Kotri, and we drove to a flood-affected area, Karo Kho, and Piary ke Goath, about 45 minutes away. The flood had destroyed their cotton crops, and the roofs of their houses were washed away. We spoke to the families there, and they all said that what they really needed was shelter for their houses. They could find work as labourers, but the lack of shelter was their main worry.
In early October, Safraz and I took a trip down to Karachi with the intention to assess some of the flood-affected areas 3-4 hours away from Karachi. The flood in Sindh was the most recent in the series of floods which have swept across Pakistan. We had 2 brothers with us, Khadim and Javed from Kotri, and we drove to a flood-affected area, Karo Kho, and Piary ke Goath, about 45 minutes away. The flood had destroyed their cotton crops, and the roofs of their houses were washed away. We spoke to the families there, and they all said that what they really needed was shelter for their houses. They could find work as labourers, but the lack of shelter was their main worry.
Dadu, Sindh
Our second destination was Dadu, in the province of Sindh. As we drove along the main Indus Highway to Dadu, we saw many families living out in the open with barely any shelter. Their homes had been completely destroyed by the flood, and they were left with almost nothing. They had makeshift wooden poles which they had picked up, and used their blankets to make a shelter. There was no clean water, or food. It was sweltering, but for them, there was no respite from the heat.
We were not able to get to Dadu in the end. After driving for 2.5 hours, we had to stop because the flood waters had wrecked the highway leading up to Dadu. We could not pass through. The water from the river had submerged the entire area save for the road. We saw people rowing themselves on a boat, to get food from shore and to rescue other people still trapped in water. On the shore, where there was people gathered, it was a picture of desperation as time was running out. The water levels were still so high even though it has been 3 weeks since the flood in Sindh. We stood there watching them for a while, not being able to contribute in any way. It was very hard leaving them, knowing that the people needed help.
Our second destination was Dadu, in the province of Sindh. As we drove along the main Indus Highway to Dadu, we saw many families living out in the open with barely any shelter. Their homes had been completely destroyed by the flood, and they were left with almost nothing. They had makeshift wooden poles which they had picked up, and used their blankets to make a shelter. There was no clean water, or food. It was sweltering, but for them, there was no respite from the heat.
We were not able to get to Dadu in the end. After driving for 2.5 hours, we had to stop because the flood waters had wrecked the highway leading up to Dadu. We could not pass through. The water from the river had submerged the entire area save for the road. We saw people rowing themselves on a boat, to get food from shore and to rescue other people still trapped in water. On the shore, where there was people gathered, it was a picture of desperation as time was running out. The water levels were still so high even though it has been 3 weeks since the flood in Sindh. We stood there watching them for a while, not being able to contribute in any way. It was very hard leaving them, knowing that the people needed help.
Thatta, Sindh
We drove back to Kotri, towards Thatta, another flood affected area. There was a tent village in Thatta that was housing people displaced from Dae Buda. The floods came about 2 weeks ago, and submerged their houses up to 11 feet in water. After 2 weeks, the water level went down to 3-4 feet, but their homes and sugarcane crops have been completely destroyed. The tents for these affected villagers from Dae Buda were provided by 'Sharing Life Ministries' from Lahore. But that was all they had provided. There was no food, no toilets, no clean water.
We got back to Javed’s family’s place late into the night with heavy hearts as we talked about the devastation, grief, desperation, and loss we saw. Safraz and I were introduced to Rizwan, one of the brothers in Kotri, over dinner and as we shared about the flood-affected areas we visited, Rizwan mentioned an area which he visited near where we were, that was an open plot of land next to the Kotri Railway. There were people from flood-affected areas of Dadu, Jacobabad, Khairpor, Nathanshah, Mahair, to name a few villages, 300-400 km away. They had lost everything in the flood and had walked to Kotri with the remaining belongings they managed to salvage. It has been almost 2 months since the flood and they have been living out in the open since.
We went to visit them the next morning, and just looking at the conditions that they were in really broke my heart. The water they were drinking was from the river near the railway, and it was brown and murky. They have had no medical care, and sicknesses like malaria, dengue, and gastro-related illnesses were on the rise. The government was providing food twice a day, but it was barely sufficient, comprising mainly watery lentils/chickpeas broth and roti.
Some of the people were housed in the Kotri Railway Hospital and school just adjacent to the railway. But it was cramped, and there was no sanitation. When we walked among the flood-affected people to talk to them, they were angry and desperate, as they crowded around us asking for food to feed their children, and medicines to treat their sicknesses. Many were also sceptical about us and wary as they thought we would be there just to take photographs but not take any action.
So many of the women reached out their hands to me begging me to give them something to eat. I was torn as I saw the need all around us, the people jostling for our attention, and heard their desperate cries for help.
We drove back to Kotri, towards Thatta, another flood affected area. There was a tent village in Thatta that was housing people displaced from Dae Buda. The floods came about 2 weeks ago, and submerged their houses up to 11 feet in water. After 2 weeks, the water level went down to 3-4 feet, but their homes and sugarcane crops have been completely destroyed. The tents for these affected villagers from Dae Buda were provided by 'Sharing Life Ministries' from Lahore. But that was all they had provided. There was no food, no toilets, no clean water.
We got back to Javed’s family’s place late into the night with heavy hearts as we talked about the devastation, grief, desperation, and loss we saw. Safraz and I were introduced to Rizwan, one of the brothers in Kotri, over dinner and as we shared about the flood-affected areas we visited, Rizwan mentioned an area which he visited near where we were, that was an open plot of land next to the Kotri Railway. There were people from flood-affected areas of Dadu, Jacobabad, Khairpor, Nathanshah, Mahair, to name a few villages, 300-400 km away. They had lost everything in the flood and had walked to Kotri with the remaining belongings they managed to salvage. It has been almost 2 months since the flood and they have been living out in the open since.
We went to visit them the next morning, and just looking at the conditions that they were in really broke my heart. The water they were drinking was from the river near the railway, and it was brown and murky. They have had no medical care, and sicknesses like malaria, dengue, and gastro-related illnesses were on the rise. The government was providing food twice a day, but it was barely sufficient, comprising mainly watery lentils/chickpeas broth and roti.
Some of the people were housed in the Kotri Railway Hospital and school just adjacent to the railway. But it was cramped, and there was no sanitation. When we walked among the flood-affected people to talk to them, they were angry and desperate, as they crowded around us asking for food to feed their children, and medicines to treat their sicknesses. Many were also sceptical about us and wary as they thought we would be there just to take photographs but not take any action.
So many of the women reached out their hands to me begging me to give them something to eat. I was torn as I saw the need all around us, the people jostling for our attention, and heard their desperate cries for help.
Building of Tent Village Near Kotri Railway
After discussion with Lesley-Anne, Diadem International Pakistan together with All Pakistan Minority Alliance (APMA), pooled their resources to build a tent village for the flood-affected victims we visited at Kotri Railway. Through Rizwan, we met up with some of the locals in Kotri who were volunteers with the Jamshoro District government, of which Kotri is part of, and also an official of the Kotri Railway company, which owned the plot of land that the flood-affected people were on.
The official consented to let us build the tent village and also agreed to provide electricity from their company’s electricity lines as well as security from their own railway police. When we received the consent, we jumped on it and moved quickly to procure the tents from Karachi.
Setting Up The Tents
With the resources we had, we managed to purchase 86 tents, enough to house at least 450 people. The tents were according to UN standards, and were thick enough to last through the winter and durable enough to withstand the weather elements. We also bought thick straw mats for them to sleep on. Within 5 days, we had the tents set up ready for the families to move in.
After discussion with Lesley-Anne, Diadem International Pakistan together with All Pakistan Minority Alliance (APMA), pooled their resources to build a tent village for the flood-affected victims we visited at Kotri Railway. Through Rizwan, we met up with some of the locals in Kotri who were volunteers with the Jamshoro District government, of which Kotri is part of, and also an official of the Kotri Railway company, which owned the plot of land that the flood-affected people were on.
The official consented to let us build the tent village and also agreed to provide electricity from their company’s electricity lines as well as security from their own railway police. When we received the consent, we jumped on it and moved quickly to procure the tents from Karachi.
Setting Up The Tents
With the resources we had, we managed to purchase 86 tents, enough to house at least 450 people. The tents were according to UN standards, and were thick enough to last through the winter and durable enough to withstand the weather elements. We also bought thick straw mats for them to sleep on. Within 5 days, we had the tents set up ready for the families to move in.
It was chaotic when we started moving the people into the tents. We had made a register of all the people living out in the open and housed in the nearby hospital and school, but when other flood-affected people from outside of the immediate area near the railway had heard about the tent village, they wanted to be housed too. It was hard refusing them as we knew that they too needed shelter, but we had to. It took a day to move everyone in, it was exhausting with the people pushing against us all day wanting to have a tent, and many were angry and frustrated as they wanted a tent but were not registered. However, by evening, all the 86 tents were occupied.
We went to the tent village the next day, and it was good seeing the people settling in. Many of them had their things laid out, the women were cooking, the children were running around playing. Hearing the sound of children’s laughter in the air made me happy, because there was a glimmer of life and hope again. As we walked around the tents, and asked the people how they were, instead of the anger we had previously experienced, there was gladness and thankfulness. They were touched that someone had helped them.
That was enough for all of us, knowing that we managed to make a difference in their lives, and gave them whatever help we could give when they were in need.
We went to the tent village the next day, and it was good seeing the people settling in. Many of them had their things laid out, the women were cooking, the children were running around playing. Hearing the sound of children’s laughter in the air made me happy, because there was a glimmer of life and hope again. As we walked around the tents, and asked the people how they were, instead of the anger we had previously experienced, there was gladness and thankfulness. They were touched that someone had helped them.
That was enough for all of us, knowing that we managed to make a difference in their lives, and gave them whatever help we could give when they were in need.
Sanitation – Building Toilets
Our next concerns were sanitation, the lack of good water, and diseases that were rapidly spreading. With the people housed in the tents, they still lacked toilets, clean water, and dengue and malaria were a danger especially for the children. Over the next 4 days, we brought in masons and workers to build 10 toilets for the tent village. To make it safe for the women, the toilets were built with bricks and cement, so that they would last longer and be easier to clean too. We also distributed mosquito nets for each tent, so that at the very least, we could help reduce the cases of dengue and malaria.
Distribution of Shelter in Karo Kho
In addition to the tent village that was built in Kotri, we also provided roofing materials to 8 families in Karo Kho, the first flood-affected area we visited. We distributed bamboo poles and iron rods for support, and light bamboo roofs. After which, we also had a time of prayer and fellowship with the villagers as they talked about their plans to rebuild their lives after the flood.
Our next concerns were sanitation, the lack of good water, and diseases that were rapidly spreading. With the people housed in the tents, they still lacked toilets, clean water, and dengue and malaria were a danger especially for the children. Over the next 4 days, we brought in masons and workers to build 10 toilets for the tent village. To make it safe for the women, the toilets were built with bricks and cement, so that they would last longer and be easier to clean too. We also distributed mosquito nets for each tent, so that at the very least, we could help reduce the cases of dengue and malaria.
Distribution of Shelter in Karo Kho
In addition to the tent village that was built in Kotri, we also provided roofing materials to 8 families in Karo Kho, the first flood-affected area we visited. We distributed bamboo poles and iron rods for support, and light bamboo roofs. After which, we also had a time of prayer and fellowship with the villagers as they talked about their plans to rebuild their lives after the flood.
Model Tent Village
There are still many needs at the tent village. Cases of dengue and malaria are on the rise. Before Sarfraz and I left Kotri after 2 weeks, we had already seen one adult and 2 children pass away from illnesses, and many more in hospital. It was difficult to leave as there were all these immediate concerns like clean water, medicines and health care, food for the people that required attention. However, we knew that God had already done a miracle with the 2 weeks that we were there. For me, knowing that I had the privilege of helping these flood-affected people in some way made me extremely thankful to be partnering with God. And knowing that what was done to them was doing it to Jesus was more than enough for me.
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ – Matthew 25:37-40
There are still many needs at the tent village. Cases of dengue and malaria are on the rise. Before Sarfraz and I left Kotri after 2 weeks, we had already seen one adult and 2 children pass away from illnesses, and many more in hospital. It was difficult to leave as there were all these immediate concerns like clean water, medicines and health care, food for the people that required attention. However, we knew that God had already done a miracle with the 2 weeks that we were there. For me, knowing that I had the privilege of helping these flood-affected people in some way made me extremely thankful to be partnering with God. And knowing that what was done to them was doing it to Jesus was more than enough for me.
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ – Matthew 25:37-40