April 10th, 2006
Purpose
The purpose of this visit was to
assess the needs and requirements for the implementation of KLWT’s
School Program. Meetings with local community members, head teachers
and students of the schools in Village Sehri Bagh (Bhunja Valley),
Union Council Kawai, Tehsil Balakot, District Mansehra
(NWFP)-Pakistan were organized.
Background
KLWT is very keen to re-start the
schools of Bhunja Valley destroyed in the earthquake as early as
possible so that the rehabilitation and healing process for the
community can be initiated. In this connection KLWT team attend a
meeting on March 04, 2006 comprising of Dr. Ayaz Khan, Zahid Jamil
Malik and Dr. Col. Jamil Yusuf with the head teachers of Bhunja
schools and community elders at Mansehra (NWFP) to discus the steps
required to re-start schools as early as possible.
For this purpose it was decided to first
start the schools in temporary tents and later on during the year
re-construct the permanent schools. A donation of six (6) 40 ft x 20 ft
Marquees jointly provided by
British International Rescue and search Dogs
(BIRD) – UK,
Disaster Management Fund, Cardiff - UK and
SIAN Cymru, Wales – UK
which were air freighted to Pakistan by KLWT.
The
utilization of the marquees, the number of students and classes per marquee,
the location for their erection, the required logistics arrangement, etc
were some of the many questions that needed clarification and were part of
the objectives of this visit.
Following activities done by the
KLWT team
>A five member team of KLWT comprising
of Dr. Ayaz Khan, Zahid Jamil Malik, Dr. Col. Jamil Yusuf, Dr. Khan
Nawab Khan and Maj® Jawad Khan visited Bhunja Valley from March 31
to April 2, 2006. Enroute there were several land slides which had
once again blocked the road and the FWO workers were constantly
clearing the Kaghan Highway.
The KLWT team arrived at Faridabad (Kaghan
Highway) and were warmly welcomed by Mr. Sajjad, Head Teacher of Boys
Primary School – Bhunja and Community elders.
The team tracked by foot from Faridabad to
Sehri Bagh along the damaged link road. The luggage was transported by
animal transport (donkey) as the link road was damaged in the October
earthquake and there were further land slides after the snows had melt and
recent heavy rains.
Upon arrival at Village Sehri Bagh the team
was warmly welcomed by the community members, school teachers, staff and
students.
The team visited all four schools and BHU
(Basic Health Unit) destroyed in the earthquake. With the help and
participation of the local community the specified area was measured and a
drawing of the area made.
Dr. Khan Nawab Khan from SIAN Cymru-UK
witnessed and filmed the activities on behalf of BBC-Wales.
Observation & Recommendation:
-
To start schools immediately and provision of teaching and student
materials.
-
Removal of destroyed buildings of school and BHU rubble and clearing
the ground to erect Marquee tents on flat land.
-
Need of tents for teachers and staff residence of the schools.
-
Special logistic arrangement required to transport the marquees from
Faridabad to Sehri Bagh.
-
Re-establishment of the Faridabad link road, if timely construction
of the schools is to be expected.
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