The earthquake that struck Pakistan on
the morning of October 8, 2005 left widespread destruction in its wake, killing at least 73,000 people, severely injuring another 70,000, and leaving 2.8 million people without shelter.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir, known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and the eastern districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) bore the full force of the earthquake in terms of
number of lives lost, injuries sustained, and destruction of infrastructure and economic assets.The days that followed brought a greater realisation of the sheer magnitude of the destruction.
An estimated 15,000 villages had suffered damage, many were completely destroyed.
Some larger towns, such as Muzaffarabad and Balakot, were virtually flattened after one of the most
devastating earthquakes in recent history shattered a tranquil Saturday morning in this remote and stunningly beautiful mountainous region.The extent of the devastation caused by the
earthquake, and the remoteness and inaccessibility of many of the affected areas, all served to further complicate the response.
However, the Concern team was able to respond in a rapid and
extremely effective manner. A key factor in our effective response was our ability to work through well-established and competent partner organisations with whom we had prior relationships.
These relationships, and the personal commitment and dedication of our country programme team, were the cornerstone of our work and contributed to our timely, effective and efficient
response.Concern's decision to avoid 'parachuting' in a large team of international staff proved to be crucial and correct. Our country programme team took the lead and developed a strong and
coherent intervention based on detailed local knowledge and expertise, working in tandem with existing partners.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
