BC-HELPING TO BALUCHISTAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN AWARAN
AWARAN/BALUCHISTAN
On the afternoon of 24 September 2013 we felt a powerfull tremor in Islamabad. As far as I concern it was a routinely surface earthuqkae disaster Pakistan facing frequently . In a short time we realized that this time was one of the most fatal earthquakes Pakistan experienced during the last years. The magnitude was 7.8 Richter Scale and the earthquake rocked Baluchistan State and affected all state including surrounding states and cities as Karachi, New Delhi, Peshawar, Gulf cities and others The district of Awaran in Baluchistan was the Centre and after hours we got the first news about hundreds of deaths and demolished villages.
We rush to the airport the following day to reach the affected area after get permission from NOC as a foreigner to enter Baluchistan Province.. Finally after two days we landed to Quetta and met officials of PDMA, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities in Baluchistan. All relief efforts had to be concentrated to Awaran. We have been transferred to Awaran by helicopter and then to the Disaster response center of Pakistani army in Khuzdar after 7 hours driving. Next day the army moved us to Awaran once again.We passed through remote and mountainous area under army security and the trip took nine hours We arrived Awaran on 28 September 2013. 33 division commander of Pakistani Army Maj. Genaral Shameez welcomed IBC relief team and provided security and logistics assistanceassistant. Around 200 village were completely demolished and up to 500 people dead in the district of Awaran.
Between Awaran and Maskhey (which is a stronghold of the rebels of Baluchistan Liberation Army attacking the relief convoys and not allow access to the affected areas) Pakistan Army arranged security to our relief convoy .We participate one of Army Relief convoys and went to Mongoli village . Mongoli was most affected village in the area.Around 3400 people living in 3 different neighbourhoods of Mangali.
We first visited the Centre of village where 160 families live. (1200 people and more than 200 houses.) All houses were destroyed by the earthquake , more than 30 people lost their lives.. We met village elder committee and ask about their priorities for relief assistance
After the first assessment, for security reasons we went back to Awaran. Awaran takes three hours to Mongoli passing a mountain area under very bad roads condition.
WE PROMISED AND WENT BACK…..
During a meeting in Mongoli village with elders we promised to come back and told them that we will deliver relief goods as they required. Ekrem Mongli the head of committee asked about food items, and blankets for the upcoming Winter..
After receiving official confirmation by IBC Headquarter in 3 weeks we started to deliver the relief goods.
Each family got 30 Kg Flour, 15 Kg rice,15 Kg sugar , 1.5 kg Masala and Salt and 10 lt cooking oil, with 15 Kg Dal, all around 15 tons food and 1200 Blankets.All relief materials delievered from Karachi.
AWARAN
Awaran has access from Bella town on the Karachi-Quatte Highway and relief trucks took 8 hours to cover the 330 km road to Bella We started our trip early morning and stop to Bella where spend in night because of security reason . Then next day convoy went to Awaran after 5 hours drive.When the convoy was in Awaran Pakistani army arranged the security in the village of Mongoli. After three hours driving we arrived to Mongoli in the afternoon
The head of Village committee was not sure that we ll come back and deliver relief and just after the Army confirmed he was convinced. He coordinated all logistics in Mongoli square. People were cheering when trucks arrived to the main square.
The Committee was very well coordinated and distribution completed without any serious trouble... All families were listed by the committee and members of the families get their relief packages after signing the delivery document (approximately almost 80 kg for each family) Some of them carried the packages by themeselves, some with small hand glades, and some by motorbike. Smiling and happy faces was our reward.We forgot anything and enjoyed the moment. Andevtureous and dangerous, hard work and security threats. We just thought ‘’Mongoli is also our Village now The village of all humankind’’
