Isolated Village Makes Urgent Plea For Help
Azad Bara village is situated on the ceasefire line between Pakistan and India, an area snowbound for 5 to 6 months of the year. Thirty-three families from this village were displaced some years ago by Indian shelling, and relocated in a housing colony in Uda Badi (Bagh City District) with the help of KIRF (Kashmir International Relief Fund-UK). Today, the 40 families still living in Azad Bara are struggling to survive the aftermath of the 8 October earthquake. Weather reports from that area indicate that snow has already started to fall (1 ft according to latest report). It should be noted that even before the quake, several deaths were recorded in this area last year following a pneumonia outbreak. Medical care in the area is non-existent.
In an urgent plea for help sent to KIRF’s field office today, Mr Afzal Malik, head of the Azad Bara village council said: “No NGO has so far tried to reach us. We are forced to survive on basic rations such as vegetable fat, sugar, flour and lentils provided by the government. We have no proper shelter to protect us from the snow.”
The only road currently open to traffic ends in Sheru Darra. “Provided relief goods become available, these will then have to be carried by foot from Sheru Darra to our village, which takes between six and eight hours,” said Akseer Ahmed Awan, who brought Mr Malik’s message to KIRF’s field office.
The critical situation facing countless isolated communities like Azad Bara requires urgent action. The clock is ticking fast. KIRF has launched an appeal to all individuals, private companies and relief organizations to work in a coordinated manner both in terms of fundraising and delivery in the field so that the most needy can be targeted as a priority.
Written by Salman Yunus
Kashmir International Relief Fund (KIRF) is the largest charity and NGO in Azad Jammu and Kashmir- the region most affected by the 8 October quake. As a registered UK Charity, KIRF has been at the forefront of providing humanitarian relief, welfare and development to the people of Kashmir since 1992.
Contact KIRF: info@kirf.org (www.kirf.org)
Local contact:
Field Office: Padder Gulsher, 4km Bagh-Sudhan Gali Road
Tel: 0092-58720-43887
Mob: 0301-5331335 (Zulfiqar Haider Raja- Director)
Thuraya: 008821666613706
Technorati Tags: KIRF
December 29th, 2005 at 3:16 am
Dear Salman Khan
Today December 28, 2005, NRSP National Rural Support Program has provided one month food ration as donated by World Food Program WFP Bagh to the 32 families (198 (persons )of Azad Bara and also to the 235 families(1293 persons) of kashmiri refugees near to same camp. It was part of food distribution project for 9171 persons in 22 tent villages in Bagh started from yesterday Dec 27, 2005 sponsored by WFP.
WFP itself has also covered Bhedi UC Forward Kahuta with the support of Islmic Relief. So Azad Bara might have definitely covered. however, You can confirm from them. regards.