A team of volunteers of the Art of Living Foundation and its sister organisation International Association for Human Values have reached several remote and mountainous villages including Shalkot in Baramulla district where no aid or relief teams have reached so far post the devastating quake. Volunteers of IAHV have begun relief operations in these villages after an assessment of the damage.
IAHV has so far distributed four truckloads of emergency relief supplies including blankets, plastic sheets, food and milk powder in these villages.
"Our volunteers have to carry the relief material and climb up a few kilometres to reach these villages," said Sanjiv Kakar, programme director of IAHV, who is overseeing the relief efforts from Baramulla.
"After the initial material relief to the survivors, we will focus on trauma relief programmes in these villages," he added.
IAHV is the only NGO offering psycho-social care and trauma relief in the quake-devastated areas. The organisation has begun trauma relief workshops for doctors and nurses at Baramulla District Government Hospital and is also conducting special programmes for children who are gripped by fear psychosis.
Before reaching Shalkot, the volunteers provided relief material and other humanitarian services to victims in Salamabad and Tangdhar. "We distributed materials, extricated dead bodies and did whatever we could. Now, we will go back and help in bringing the people out of depression and trauma," said team leader Kahlid Wasim.
IAHV has also begun relief operations in Pakistan. A team of volunteers is camping in Balakot, the worst effected area to distribute emergency relief supplies. Through its Middle East office in Dubai, IAHV has pledged relief materials worth $100,000 (Rs. 45,00000) for Pakistan. These emergency supplies will include generator sets, tents and medicine.
IAHV Middle East is also facilitating visas for volunteers wanting to go to Pakistan.
The victims of the disaster are in urgent need of emergency supplies especially tents, cooking utensils, foodgrains, blankets, etc. You can help them through contributions in cash and kind.
Cheques can be made in favour of IAHV-Disaster Relief Fund, A/c No 2061450000048, HDFC Bank, GN Chetty Road, Chennai.
For contributions of emergency relief supplies, contact Art of Living Information Centre, C-9, Green Park Extension, New Delhi, 110016. Phone: (011) 26562606/26611097.
For relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir, contact Dilraj Bedi on 9810263152 or Govinda Rao on 9845020881.
Volunteers wanting to go to Pakistan, contact 9341979396.
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