Kashmir Relief

Since October 11, 2005, CFC has been committed to providing disaster relief services to the survivors of the devastating 7.6 October 8th 2005 earthquake.

On October 19, 2005 the organization launched its Disaster Relief Effort in Kashmir in response to the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake. For a 30-day period CFC provided emergency supplies in the form of dry milk, blankets, plastic sheets, tents, flashlights, drinking water, warm clothing, et cetera to the residents of various villages in the Jhelum Valley.

Out of this immediate response to the earthquake several collaborative projects came to fruition. On October 20, 2005 CFC began its collaboration with U.S. based NGO, Operation Heartbeat, and the Pakistan Armed Forces. Together, medical services were provided to the residents of Jhellum valley through mobile healthcare camps, with base camps in Gharri Dupatta and Chikkar, as well as additional satellite camps throughout the valley.

As the need for emergency relief tapered, what began as a single relief effort developed into a three tier CFC Disaster Relief Project. The three components of the project were healthcare, mental health and education. The mental health component of the project ended in April 2007 after it had exceeded its target of individuals reached by the mental health trainings.

Education – Project Kitab
On December 10, 2005 established a co-ed primary tent school based in the Hattian Bala tehsil in Bandi Chakkan. Bandi Chakkan is a small, remote community of approximately 1500 residents. Prior to the earthquake the school of 150 pupils operated out of the only teacher’s house and was a severely under-funded government school.In the interim of beginning construction of a physical school building, CFC has supplied the school with additional tents – to form different level classrooms, hired and pays for four additional teachers, and has provided essential school supplies – including stationary, blackboards, textbooks, etc. Aid has also been provided in the form of warm clothing, blankets and heaters for the winter months, an important incentive to increase pupil attendance.