www.chitraltimes.com

Relief goods distributed among affected people of Boborbakh

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) distributed emergency relief items to the families affected by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) which occurred in Gaborbakh, Chitral on July 13 2008. Situated 80 km from Chitral town, Gaborbakh has a total of 40 households. The GLOF had completely destroyed 14 houses along with other building assets. An early evacuation made by the FOCUS Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) ensured that no lives were lost due to the flooding. Community leaders present at the relief distribution appreciated the timely actions taken by the CERT team before and immediately after the disaster. As a first response, the team provided basic items including tents, blankets and tarpaulins and conducted a prompt needs assessment exercise for the subsequent distribution of relief items. The distribution took place at Gaborbakh where family members received staple food items including flour, rice, sugar, milk powder, cooking oil, pulses, tea leaf, as well as kitchen items and bedding. Also present were local civic authority and community leaders. In a speech to the families present, Mr. Sartaj Ahmed Khan, Tehsil Nazim Chitral appreciated the efforts of FOCUS in enhancing the resilience of local community towards natural disasters. Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is a crisis response and disaster risk management agency established in Europe, North America and South and Central Asia. It helps vulnerable communities build resilience to natural and man-made disasters and compliments the provision of humanitarian relief principally in the developing world. FOCUS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions, for people of all faiths and origins, in specific regions of the developing world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PTCL employees continues strike

By Our Correspondent

CHITRAL: The strike of PTCL employees has entered its 10th day here on Thursday who are demanding abolition of unified pay scale, security of service and regularization of some employees. They said that they will continue their peaceful strike till the acceptance of their demands and will not bow down to the pressure of the management.