Here is an update of our relief work in the effected areas.

We have focused in two areas. After the discussion, it was decided that
Paniloa town in Rawalakot district in Kashmir and some isolated village in
Balakot district in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) will be our area of
work. The destruction is on massive scale and we had no choice but to
restrict ourselves in two selected areas.

Paniola is 12 kilometer away from Rawalkot district of Kashmir. Paniola is a
small town, 12 kilometer from Balakot. There are 38 villages around the
town. They are located on both sides of Paniola, upward on the mountains and
downward towards the valley. The town has a small bazaar. The registered
votes on the local areas are 62,000. There are two union councils in the
area, Pachiot and Bangohi. There is one girl‚s college 4 kilometer from
Paniola and one boy‚s college 7 kilometer from here. Paniola is mainly a
trading town with shops of all kind. The total population of the town will
be not more than 2000.

It is mainly an area comprising working people. Some has gone to Middle East
and many to other parts of Pakistan in search of work. There very few who
could be regarded as rich and middle class. There is no industry in the
area. The main work at Paniola is petty trading and selling milk and goats.
Some also sell grass.

The earthquake on 8^th October has hit the area and the damage is colossal.
There are not human causalities as is the case of Bagh but almost every
house in the villages particularly towards the valley is damaged of totally
destroyed. It is estimated that there are around 350 causalities and many
more injured. Most of the people have to live outside their demolished
houses and some has managed some tents. And locally made some sort of
shelter of cloths blankets and bed sheets. The winter is approaching and the
situation will get worst.

For first two days, there was no help arrived from anywhere. Although
several trucks load of good were passing from here to go to Rawalkot and
Bagh. This was building frustration among the villagers. Nisar Shah,
chairperson Labour Party Pakistan belong to this area. He is practicing
advocate in Karachi. He was able to come here on 9^th October. The first help
arrived here on 11^th October from Lahore sent by Labour Relief Campaign.
This was followed by several more trucks sent from Lahore. Several
volunteers from Lahore LPP stayed here few days to help in distribution and
survey of the area.

The idea of setting up local committee was not materialized until the first
relief truck that arrived here on 11^th October. Local had no trust as this
might be just a talk show. Since then, 13 village committees have been set
up. There is a central relief committee now working on the name of Citizen
Relief Committee headed by Nisar Shah. A team of 10 members from Lahore
visited the area on 18^th October. The area need immediate and long term
relief and rehabilitation work.

The main need of the area is shelter, food and medicines.

The other focal area of our work is some village at Balakot area in NWFP.

At Sanghar, Kashian, Bhanghian and Josach villages in Balakot district,
there are 80 per cent causalities and 100 percent houses are demolished, one
of the worst hit area. These villages are around 30 kilometer from Balakot
city. Some more relief has finally arrived in the villages after 12 days.
Labour Relief Campaign was the first one to reach the area on 13^th October
after five days of the most disaster our earthquake in Pakistan.

Here as well, a local relief committee is been established to help
coordinate the work. This most effected area. We heard that teams from China
and army has now reached in the area and has provided some tents, food and
medicines.

A lot more has to be done in this area including the rebuilding of the
education and health system. The immediate need is shelter, food and
medicines.

What has been done so far

We have sent nine truck loads of food, tents, medicine, blankets and cloths.
That has been distributed by the local committees and by the volunteers of
Labour Relief Campaign. We have established a temporary office and a store
in Paniola. At this place, we are the only one helping the area. Every day,
dozens of effectees of the villages from the top of the mountains and from
the valley come to the office to ask for the help.

We are also trying to help build the networking of different organizations
in Pakistan who are involved in relief and rehabilitation work.

Labour Education Foundation
Sufi Mansion 7-Agerton Road Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: 92 42 6303808, Fax: 92 42 6271149
Email: lef lef.org.pk Website: www.lef.org.pk