December 28, 2006

Kashtera Camp, Pakistan - In tent number 71, family Hussain huddles closely together to fight the cold. Since one week Arshad Hussain, his two wives Saeeda and Farzana, 5-year old son Hassnain and daughter Rimshah Bibi (14 months) have been living in Kashtera Camp, near Balakot. Their house in the Kaghan Valley was destroyed by last year's earthquake, and after their already rugged tent collapsed under a heavy pack of snow, they decided to take refuge in the tent camp. Their possessions are stacked in a corner: a few blankets, clothes, some pots and pans and a gas cooker. "The snow blocked the roads and there was nothing left to eat," Saeeda says. "We did not want to migrate, but we had no choice."

On their arrival, Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS-P/A) provided the Hussains and the other families with a food package consisting of flour, rice, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, tea leaves, salt, matches and soap. After the initial month, World Food Program will continue to assist these families. The 198 available tents (provided by NRC) were occupied within a few days after opening the camp. The Camp Management requested CWS-P/A to provide 200 shelter and food packages, which will be distributed in the camp to the newly arrived families. Up to 200 extra plastic sheets will be provided to current residents who are living in leaking tents.

Besides this, CWS-P/A provides a Basic Health Unit with 5 staff, and is responsible for water and sanitation (including water taps, latrines, washrooms and showers), and garbage and waste disposal management for the earthquake survivors in Kashtera Camp.

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