SEWA'S HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR
(1 January 2006)

Following the Asian earthquake on 8 October 2005, a team of volunteers from Sewa Bharti (a partner organisation of Sewa International UK) visited the inaccessible areas along the Line of Control (LOC) of Jammu & Kashmir State. Fresh strong tremors and also the drop in temperature have hampered both the relief and rehabilitation work in earthquake ravaged areas. Over 1500 people lost their lives in Jammu & Kashmir and Sewa International has taken up the challenge to rebuild and adopt at least three of the most affected villages situated on LOC of India (2 villages in Kashmir and one in Jammu).

As part of adopting the villages, the charity will construct the new houses consisting of two rooms & a kitchen. The estimated cost per such block is approximately Rs 1 lakh. Sewa hopes to construct at least 200 such blocks in three adopted villages along with a community hall, a school and a dispensary at each village.

A team of volunteers from Sewa International visited the affected area of the earthquake in Kashmir in particular the Kupwara and Uri Districts in December 2005, in order to complete a fact finding assessment of the needs of the immediate victims and see how funds raised in the UK can be best utilised.

Firstly, the team visited Kashmir Nar in Lolab area of Kashmir. This area is about 1 KM from the main road. The Area is surrounded by various villages Kashira Nar (27 houses), Ghoose (150 houses), Jangli (70 houses), Habba khab (60 Houses) and Dober (120 Houses).

After Kashira Nar the team visited Lagama in Uri sector. Uri is about 3 KM from Lagama. Its population is about 300 families. During the tour the team decided that it will utilize some of the funds collected to construct a school building on a land together with a computer centre, and vocational Training Centre for cutting & tailoring.

The team also distributed relief material including tarpaulin sheets and tents & blankets to 425 families in 15 villages. "Our volunteers on the ground have said that there is still an urgent need to cater for the needs of the victims as the severe winter has already taken grip in the affected areas bringing with it cold, windy and snowy conditions” said a Sewa spokesman.

Since the devastating day of the earthquake, Sewa International UK was the first to respond to help to the victims of the Kashmir earthquake, with the principle aim to try and rebuild the lives of the victims who have been affected by this disaster both in terms of providing shelter, food and above all long term medical assistance. In addition, the organisation has recently utilised fund collected from the UK to buy a mobile medical van to meet the immediate requirements of the victims. Due to the rugged terrain & long distances, the mobile medical van is being used to reach the victims easily & maintain continuity of our activities in the earthquake-affected areas and to distribute medicines to the ailing patients.

The medical project is carried out using a fully equipped (TRAX Jeep) vehicle. It is used to provide medical assistance to many affected villages within close proximity. The vehicle is fully equipped with a Doctor/Pharmacist, Medication, and other Life Saving Equipment and is used to dispense medicines as well as providing general medical help within villages that do not have a health centre/surgery.

Patients needing further treatment are transported in the vehicle and taken to the nearest Hospital facility. As well as dispensing medication – the vehicle will park up at villages and conduct regular clinics such as eye camps, ear nose and throat clinics, counselling clinics and diabetes and cholesterol checks. The vehicle will be out in the field on average 23 days per month and will visit each village approximately 3 to 4 times a month.

Sewa hopes to continue fund-raising for more Jeeps, blankets, tents and equipment. Donations can be made via a credit card hotline Telephone: 0116 261 0303 or by post to. Sewa International UK, 46-48 Loughborough Road, Leicester, LE4 5LD. (Please make Cheques payable to “Sewa International” and mark the envelope for the attention of: Sewa International Kashmir Earthquake Appeal 2005). Further information can be found at: www.sewainternational.com

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