(As of 06.12.2005)
Islamabad:
Since the first day, the Foundation has been serving to the earthquake victims in Islamabad on a grand scale. The Zakat Foundation has two major camps; one in Aabpara and the other in Iqbal Hall (which is a converted sports complex), a small camp adjacent to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital has been providing food to the patients and their relatives. Fifty tents have been donated to those affected by the earthquake in the “H-11” section as well. The Foundation has been helping the victims living in a set of apartments provided by the Capital Development Authority with necessities like blankets, sleeping pads and regular food items. There are presently 350 families residing in the area that The Foundation is supplying supplies to on a regular basis.
The Zakat Foundation is appreciated by the Capital Development Authority and Interior Ministry for its effort in Islamabad and its name is mentioned in daily reports as the only local organization with shelters in Islamabad.
Recently Iqbal Hall, which was allocated by the Capital Development Authority from the first week to the Foundation to take care of the affected families, has given back as per the request of the Capital Development Authority. Those families have been transported to Aabpara Camp and have been provided with tents and other necessities. The Capital Development Authority appreciated the Foundation and thanked for its all efforts.
Muzaffarabd:
Tents are being replaced with the new insulated ones to withstand the harsh winters. The field hospital has also been rebuilt with a floor of tiles and new insulation so that the hospital may have operating rooms, maternity care and a delivery room as well as the standard wards. Soon there will be enhanced services, including free operations, ultrasound and x-ray service. So far there have been six births in the field hospital and there are sixty potential mothers in our tent village and more of them from the surrounding area. Our field hospital serves not only to the people of our camp, but others from the mountain villages or the city Muzaffarabad. There are at the moment two female and two male doctors at the field hospital.
Some kitchen utensils have been bought and distributed to the camp residents. As soon as the kitchen area is set up, the people will start cooking their own food. These sets include: a cooking pot, a pan, a kettle, a jug and glasses, plates, spoons and a knife (most items are adjusted per the number of family members).
There are two large tents which have been set in the tent village to serve as a school. At this date, the number of the students from Nursery to Grade 8 is around 300. All the children are provided with all the needed school supplies and are overjoyed to be able to restart school.
Attar Shesha:
The field hospital of Attar Shesha has become one of the best known medical facilities in the area, providing with free x-rays and fully equipped operating table. At the beginning there were times when this field hospital saw more than 350 patients in a day with sixty operations. The hospital is capable of maintaining fifty bedded patients and has a staff of more than 10 doctors at time working voluntarily.
A plot of land has been rented to be used as a tent village exclusively for widows and orphans. Around 300 tents are being placed for their use, as well as another full fledged field hospital. This hospital will serve the surrounding area in addition to those living in the camp.
Aashiana:
With the grace of Almighty Allah, the Foundation has been honored by the Government of Pakistan with the permission to collect and take care of the orphans, widows and destitute women. Since this was granted, the teams of the Foundation have been working in the earthquake affected areas and interacting with the victims in different camps and villages.
The President of Pakistan has named this area Aashiana. The Presidential Initiative Rehabilitation Centre for Orphans and Destitute Women was praised by his Excellency and the General Secretary of United Nations, Kufi Annan on November 18, 2005. It is a massive complex with residential blocks, a school, hospital, helipad, vocational training centers, playgrounds, parks, cafeteria and a conference hall.
At present there are around 248 orphans and 60 women with a capacity to maintain 1400 people. All the residents are provided with clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene items upon their arrival to Aashiana. The children have been registered in the school on the basis of assessment tests given by the teachers and by the children’s background education. The children have been provided with all needed materials for school which includes uniforms. Additionally, there are two playgrounds in the school area for the children’s recreation.
Sustainable Projects:
After all relief efforts, the Foundation is going into rehabilitation programs of the earthquake affected areas. The Foundation intends to build 1000 houses, some schools, clinics and masjids in Azad-Jammu Kashmir and the Northwest frontier provinces.
With the coordination of the Kashmiri government, The Zakat Foundation has taken on the responsibility of building a school and Masjid in Ghari Doppata near Muzaffarabad. Soon we will establish a training center centrally located to educate the locals on construction to assist in the rebuilding projects. Meanwhile a construction committee has been formed by the Foundation for planning these long term projects. The committee is working on the proposals of different construction companies and is operating in coordination with the Government.
The second area where construction will start is Battal which is in North Province of Pakistan. There are around 800 houses which were totally destroyed in the area which The Zakat Foundation has proposed to rebuild. For this purpose, the committee will pay a visit on 7th December to the area to assess the need.