Helping families in Pakistan with long-term rebuilding efforts 

In October 2005 an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit Pakistan. More than 87,000 lives were lost and 150,000 injured, and those who survived were faced with immense hopelessness and loss as their homes, schools, hospitals, and livelihoods were destroyed.

One of the hardest hit regions was the Mansehra District in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), a remote mountainous region where landslides caused by the earthquake made access extremely difficult to provide much needed aid.

From emergency assistance to rebuilding 

With the support of rapid and generous donations from concerned Canadians, HOPE International Development Agency was able to help in the emergency and ongoing relief throughout the winter. We delivered 3.2 million dollars worth of medical supplies, enabling more than 55,000 people to receive medical treatment since the devastating earthquake.

In the town of Showal Mazullah, 10 children were killed when the Government Primary School collapsed. To help with the rehabilitation, we provided assistance to help build a structurally sound primary school.  This five classrooms building can accommodate over 200 children that used to attend class in only a make-shift tent. The school officially opened on March 20, 2006.

We continue to be committed to helping the people of Pakistan.  In the coming years we will partner with earthquake survivors to establish Nai Basti, or New Villages, on the earthquake ruins.  Rebuilding long-term, sustainable, community oriented infrastructure such as primary schools, medical clinics, and clean drinking water systems will dramatically improve living conditions.  More importantly, it will restore hope for those who have lost so much after such a terrible natural disaster.

In total, 5,000 people in 20 villages are benefiting from these rehabilitation activities in the Mansehra and Bagh regions.