Saba Trust’s Timely
Relief Efforts in Mansehra
By M. Junaid Swati
Soon
after October 8th, relief workers of the Saba Trust rushed
to the devastated areas and all the workers remained busy
right from October 9th to date in providing food, shelter
and medical assistance to the survivors of the quake . Although
some of Saba Trust workers and volunteers were not fully
trained for the task but they have been working in difficult
conditions with courage and conviction. In my opinion Saba
Trust Mujahadeen have really done a remarkable job; the
fact is that when I look around and visit different devastated
areas and talk to the victims who are well I am convinced
of the good work of the Saba workers.
Those who need some treatment and others whoare badly injured
have been duly supported and extended help. Each and every
one of them has great praise for the Saba Trust team. All
Trust workers have done the job professionally with great
courtesy and devotion. They have all praised Saba Trust.
Journalists of the area are also working with Saba Trust
for guidance and information, and have given long hours
and worked, at times, for many days at stretch .
During a press conference at Mansehra a very far flung area
of Mansehra was identified by a journalist where Saba Trust
workers were active, a place which one found very hard to
reach even under normal circumstances
Saba Trust Manager, Malik Salahuddin and two local persons
drove to Kala Dhaka (Mansehra). The road from Mansehra city
uptil Oogi (60 Km from Mansehra) was OK, but the road ahead
from Darban (35 km from Oogi) to Dandaar (a village of Kala
Dhaka) was tortuous and difficult terrain. After negotiating
hairpin bends and steep gradient for a few miles they reached
Dandaar village.
“I am nothing but a living dead, who is dependant
on others. Instead of being so disabled, it would have been
better if I had died like thousands of others,” says
Zarina Bibi, 60, lying outside her devastated house. What
will happen to thousand of lives? If we do not provide relief
till the time, the snow would fall in late Novembe. On one
of the many concussions to the outlying areas of Kala Dhaka
we reach Shagai village, the tragedy and uncertainty of
life could not be more poignantly demonstrated than by this
event, and highlights the dangers that stare one in the
face. A lot many more houses were destroyed and we saw many
more needing repair and help and needing them badly. This
realization created a strong sense of helpless ness and
stress.
We knew that village Dore Mera was just around Shagai, where
we left our vehicles at some distance. It was very hard
to circumvent this inconvenience but we never stopped and
we found the path that went up to the village Dore Maira.
Here the situation was really precarious - children and
women - with severe wounds were lying unattended. Some of
them were just waiting for death. “Allah, how merciful
you are, you have sent angles! Yes, they surely will help
us,” said Rehmana Gul, 30, on seeing members of the
Saba Trust team. The members of the team were on their toes
and extended help to other villages like Suddo Khan, Pernooli.
Its very painful exercise to cover a disaster of this magnitude.
It needs a lot of effort - financial, physical and emotional
- much more than what is required to cover a war.
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