Aitemaad Pakistan Trust develops an isolated flood affected village in Tehsil Jati, District Thatta

3rd January, 2012: During the year 2011, Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has carried out concentrated welfare and rehabilitation work in a remote Village located on the left bank of river Indus in Kutcha area in Tehsil Jati, district Thatta. This village is called Hammad Otho. This is a detached and a secluded village where school, health and water facilities were non-existent. A contractor was mobilized from Karachi to make a 5000 gallons water reservoir tank in the village and hand pumps were installed. A community centre has been built, besides these facilities Aitemaad Homes and community bathrooms have also being built. As a consequence a primary school is functioning in the community centre. Now water is available in the village and also to irrigate agriculture lands. The community bathrooms help residents to take bath and remain clean. This village did not have electricity therefore Aitemaad Trust in collaboration with Shaan Technologies have installed Solar Lights in every house, besides Solar Street Lights have also been installed. These facilities have helped to change the life style of the village population. Aitemaad Trust has also given sewing machines on subsdised rates to residents for income generation.

---

Solar Lights Illuminates a secluded village near River Indus

4th December, 2011: Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has adopted a Flood affected village called Hammad Otho. This village did not have grid station – electricity, therefore Aitemaad Trust in collaboration with LED Tronics / Shaan Technologies have installed Solar Lights in each of the village houses besides pole mounted Solar Street Lights have also been placed at vital points in the village. A comprehensive report on how it has impacted on the life of the residents is reflected in the following report.

a. Monthly Expected Savings From Kerosene Oil
The village has about 50 families with a total population of about 500 men, women and children. Prior to introduction of Solar lights none of the village residents was using kerosene oil lamps. Had they been using the kerosene lamps the cost affects would have been as follows: the cost of kerosene lantern is about Rs. 300. The cost of using kerosene lantern for about two hours per day would be rupees twenty, and thus a monthly expenditure of about Rs. 600 per month. The village residents were living virtually in total darkness.

b. Health Benefits
In a Village environment the hazards to life in total darkness are snake and scorpion bites. Most of the women and children walk bare feet and are prone to thorn in-takes and possibility of bashing against unforeseen objects. The introduction of Solar lights has protected the inhabitants against life dangers and risk and provided them flexibility to move around in their houses with great amount of pliability and freedom. Previously the night life came to a total halt after sunset, but now they have freedom to cook during dark hours in the presence of Solar lights. Therefore there are definite health benefits due to introduction of Solar lights.

c. Productive Hours Benefits
These days the sunset is at 5:40 p.m, and the twilight extends to another 20 minutes, at 6 p.m there is virtual darkness when the Solar lights are
switched on. We have instructed the village residents to switch off the lights at about 11 p.m; with the introduction of Solar lights about 5 hours
have been added to their working hours, which, with the passage of time, they would use them in a productive manner; one of the prominent activity observed was night cooking and house hold work. This also gives the benefit to use hand pumps to replenish water and to look after their cattle.

d. New Income Generation Sources
In a traditional village life the dawn activity commences at 5 a.m with a cup of tea and bread. Thereafter the men generally go to near by land for labor, the women who are not only considered work horses but are actually the work horses of village society get embroilled in daily work, which involves collecting water, collecting wood, washing clothes, to look after the house and children and to cook food. Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has provided 18 families with sewing machines, and with the help of these machines, and with the introduction of Solar lights a new avenue has been opened for them, whereby they use the night hours from sunset to 11 p.m for stitching and embroidery. Not every women or girl has skills to use sewing machines efficiently, but the facilities have been introduced and they realize how to benefit from these facilities.

e. Expected Increase On Daily/Monthly Income
An average family in a village consist of a husband, wife and 6 children. To get a Salwar Qamiz stitched the tailoring charges are Rs. 200 (2.2 US Dollars). With the help of sewing machines the ladies have started stitching the clothes of their family members. If two suits are stitched per month for their family they have a saving of Rs. 400, and to utilize night hours with Solar lights they can stitch suits for neighboring villages that would get them an additional income of Rs. 200 – 400.

f. Social Benefits
The use of Solar lights from sunset to 11 p.m gives the village residents an opportunity to socially interact and discuss matters that would benefit them in the future. Aitemaad Trust has introduced a village Radio on experimentally basis, so that the village residents can tune-in to local news and music to entertain them selves and become aware of all development and activities taking place at provincial and national level. Aitemaad Trust is
thinking to provide Radios to all families.

g. Educational Benefits
Aitemaad Trust has started a school for the Village children between the ages of 5 to 12 years, the children study 6 days a week from 8 a.m to 1 p.m under the guidance of a teacher. The introduction of Solar lights has provided an ideal opportunity to children to read their books and revise their lessons. They would also benefit from the indoor games that Aitemaad Trust has recently introduced.

h. Ray of Hope
The village women were asked, that what is the benefit of Solar lights! Their response was prompt and simple, “that the lights are a blessing in a night time environment.” The lights are a source of joy and provide a sense of security in a pitch dark environment, the light also provide a flexibility of movement.

i. Village Recognition
The introduction of 1-watt solar lamps and pole mounted Street Flood Lights has become a source of recognition for the village of Hammad ottho. The Village can now be recognized from far away which is again a source of pride for the residents as this community has become privileged.

j. Recognition in a Society
The 50 families living in Village Hammad Otho were virtually residing in stone age, and now with Solar lights available to each house hold, the community has come out of the dark ages. The Solar lights have restored human dignity, and they can feel proud that they have a respectable place in human civilization. The Solar lights have given them hope and sense of direction and it is up to these human beings how much they can capitalize from this facility.
 

---

Shelter and relief camps for rain-flood affected families near Rashid Abad, Tando Allayar

5th November, 2011: The exceptionally heavy rains during August-September 2011, caused wide spread damage to the crops, houses and communication infrastructure in districts Badin, Tando Allayar, Mirpurkhas, Nawab Shah. After visit to the rain affected areas the Chairman and the board of Trustees decided to open shelter camps near Rashid Abad – Tando Allayar to provide shelter to 57 families displaced due to rains and Floods. The camps were operated from 23rd September to 03rd November 2011. For one week cooked food was provided to the families, than weekly rations were issued to the affected families in the camps. On 04th November 2011, the camps were closed and the families were allowed to return to their villages as rain water had receeded from their villages. Aitemaad Trust in collaboration with AKHUWAT arranged following relief package for the families. Rs. 5000 in cash was given to each of the repatriated families by AKHUWAT. Rest of the items were provided by Aitemaad Trust; Ration bags, Hygienic Kit boxes, bags of Clothes, box of Cooking Utensils and Water Coolers. Mr. Nazim Haji and Syed Qaiser Ali President AKHUWAT, assisted by Cdre Ejaz Chaudhris gave away the relief package items during repatriation occasion.

---

Aitemaad Pakistan Trust opens releif camps for rain effected families near Tando Allahyar

23rd September, 2011: Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has established two camps at Tando Allahyar. There are about 500 IDP’s - displaced families (women, children and men ) in the camps. They are being looked after by Aitemaad and in addition to the tents they are being provided food, clean drinking water, nighttime lighting, mosquito protection lotion/coil. These people will be repatriated when water recedes from their lands.

---

Aitemaad Pakistan Trust Team Visits Rain-Flood effected areas in district Badin and renders assistance

12th September, 2011: A four member team headed by Mr. Nazim Haji and assisted by Ejaz Chaudhri, Mr. Qasim Pahore and Mr. Safdar Rizvi went on a visit to the rain and flood effected areas in the province of Sindh. The team visited Union Consuls and Taluqas in areas Badin Matli, Tando Ghulam Ali, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and areas adjoining Chambhar Road and Tando Alla Yaar. The team walked through the villages of Bachal Machi, Khan Mohammad Laghari and Aacher Uthsaadhi. The team observes extensive damage to agricultural crops, mud houses, poultry sheds and schools. Large number of families were displace and observed taking shelters on the roadside and on high ground. Vast areas of agriculture land were inundated with rain and flood waters due to overflowing canals. There was visible damage to the cotton, sugarcane, chilies, onions and banana crops. The ongoing heavy rains were causing misery for the displaced families basically of Hindu tribes of Bheel and Collees. As an immediate relief the Aitemaad Trust team distributed rupees 2000/- per family in the areas that were visited. As regard future Aitemaad Trust will open tent village in area Badin-Tando Alla Yaar to render all possible assistance to the effected families for which the work is in progress.

---

Rehabilitation and welfare work at village Hammad Otho Jeti

5th July, 2011: Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has adopted a remote village call Hammad Otho in Tehseel Jati. The approach to the village is via Chur Jamali Road in district Thatta. From Sujawal, its 45 minute drive. The village has 45 mud-straw houses with a population of 400 men, women and children. The people of this remote village work as labourers on the nearby farms. Some villagers have lands ranging from 3 to 10 acres. There is no educational institution or healthcare and drinking water is one of the biggest problem facing villagers. Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has been working in this village since April 2011, with a view to develop it as a model village so as to change the thinking and lifestyle of the people. The work done by the trust is as follows.

a. A multipurpose community hall has been constructed.
b. Six homes for the widows have been completed.
c. A water project has been completed, it includes a water reservoir of 5000 gallons along with hand pumps.
d. Solar lights in the entire village will be installed, more than 60% work on the project has been completed.
e. Street solar flood lights will also be installed in the village and the work is in progress.
f. Sewing machines have been provided to the village women.
g. Monitory support was provided to all the families on Eid on 1st September 2011.

Projects under consideration by trust

a. Construction of water pipeline/concrete canal from Indus River to the village.
b. Construction of second phase of widow homes at the village.
c. To arrange medical camps on monthly basis.
d. To start school for the 200 village children.
e. To initiate a project regarding income generation.

---

Awards and Recognition Ceremony

On Friday 15th April, 2011, an awards and recognition ceremony was held at the services mess Karachi. The ceremony was organized to honor and recognize the services of female and male volunteers who worked with Aitemaad Pakistan Trust to alleviate the suffering of flood affectees in the camps at Gharo-Thatta, khairpur and Shikarpur. The volunteers were invited from the three districts and Karachi to receive and recognize their valuable services in the field operations and logistics. The function commenced at 7 pm, and Mr. Younas Dhaga who was incharge of the field operations gave an overview of how rescue, shelter and repatriation phases were organized. The chairman of the Trust Mr. Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim gave away the certificates and mementos to the recipients and spoke on by occasion. He opined that there was a need to create awareness amongst the poor and down trowden of society to bring about a change in Pakistan and that the Aitemaad Pakistan Trust would play its due role for the uplift of the people of the Pakistan; He said that every responsible citizen has a duty to elect good leaders so that the country could progress. Members of the Trust i.e. Mr. Nazim haji, Mr. Zubair habib, and Mr. M Fazil Bharucha were present on the occasion. Ejaz Chaudhri conducted the ceremony and he was assisted by Khalid SaifUllah. Large number of personnel from six TV channels and news print were present on the occasion. On conclusion of the proceedings dinner was served to the participants particularly the volunteers who had come from the three districts from northern and southern Sindh and had to travel back to their respective homes at night located far away.

---

Rehabilitation and Welfare

On completion of the repatriation process in the fourth week of October 2010, the chairman and board of trustees focused their attention on rehabilitation and welfare activities. The trustees travelled to areas in Thatta which were affected by the floods. The areas visited were sajawal, jati and chur jamali. Villages located east of river Indus were visited which were about two kilometer from the river and were severely affected by the floods in August- September 2010. A cluster of four villages were provisionally selected. They were village Hammad ottho, village Yaqoob manro, village haji Allah dino manro, and village haji Abdul khaliq manro. Drinking water was identified as a major problem facing the village population besides education healthcare and skill development and micro financing. After carrying out initial survey in these villages Aitemaad Pakistan Trust with the help of NESPAK engineering commenced work on drinking water as a first proriority. Mobile help health team was gradually introduced to the village Hammad ottho and village committee was formulated to inculcate administration on self help basis at the village level. The work in these areas is being pursued and humanitarian relief aid has also been provided in all districts affected by the floods.

---

Repatriation of Flood Affected Families-IDP’S

After providing shelter to flood affected families-IDP’s in the camps for two months at Gharo, khairpur and Shikarpur districts a well planned repatriation blue print - system was conceived to repatriate families back to their villages as the water had receded and the native areas had become habitable. The plan was executed from 29 September to 30 October 2010. The repatriation plan included following aspects:

a) Rupees five thousand cash was paid to each family
b) Transport was arranged by the Trust/Government so that flood refugees could reach their villages without incurring any cost.
c) Tents were provided to each affected family
d) Two months ration was provided to each of the families
e) Specially prepared tool kits in coordination with red crescent society were given to each family so that they could use the tools in the villages and may help them to reconstruct their huts.
f) Each family was given a box contain stainless steel cooking utensils.
g) Each family was given one box containing hygienic kit

The field repatriation work was handled by Mr. Younas Dagha and his team and assisted by Ejaz Chaudhri, C.O.O of Aitemaad Pakistan Trust. The chairman Mr. Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, Mr. Nazim haji, Mr. M. Fazil Bharucha and Mr. Zubair Habib were present on occasions to personally supervise and over see the repatriation process.

---

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AID

Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has been registered as a charitable trust for the purpose of advancing the causes of rescue, relief, rehabilitation to the victims of 2010 floods by providing direct and indirect assistance to the individuals and institutions affected by the flood calamity; Besides charitable work the trust is also registered for education, training and welfare activities. Since its inception Aitemaad Pakistan Trust has also provided humanitarian relief aid to flood relief camps and various organizations as per following tabulated details shown on the web site.
 

---

2010 Flood Relief Statistics