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NUR & FMS In Balochistan 

In June 2007, NUR and its collaborating partner Fatima Memorial System took the lead in channeling relief for flood affectees in Balochistan. The devastation caused by Cyclone Yemin and the resulting floods left thousands without food, water and shelter. To make matters worse the floods affected communities who were already based in underserved and remote locations.

Within two days of the floods, FMS-NUR dispatched the Coordinator Representative of the Outreach Program, Dr. Nasir Shah, to Quetta - the provincial capital of Balochistan to assess the needs and put a relief coordination system in place. As a native of Balochistan, Dr. Nasir Shah was not only able to rapidly assess the ground realities, but also put into place a systematic programme for relief in collaboration with the Government of Balochistan, Balochistan University (Quetta) and Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology (Khuzdar-Makran). Key elements of the relief and rehabilitation efforts included:

1. Provision of dry rations in the forms of a packet consisting of atta, biscuits, ghee, dates, pickles;

2. Provision of clothes to the flood affectees;

3. Provision of Medical Aid to Flood Affectees through a Health Center in Turbat set up and staffed by physicians from collaborating partner organization, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. The center remained in operation for over two year following the flood relief efforts

Disaster Site Management - Experience of Similar Projects in the Past

NUR, in collaboration with FMS has the ability and experience to run such projects in the past, one of the recent examples is the Primary Health Care center JARED (KAGHAN, NWFP) in the Earthquake Disaster area which is running successfully and is providing Health facilities to a vast number of local populations.

NUR was extensively deployed on site during the Northern Areas Earthquake in Pakistan in 2005. In addition to collection of over Rs. 1.5 million in cash donations, NUR collected over Rs. 2 million in food rations, tents & medicines to support a medical unit set up in partnership of FMH & CMH Abbottabad.

FMS & NUR Role In Relief Work

FMS and NUR became involved in the relief work for flood victims in the initial stages. FMS-NUR established a communication center at the computer lab of Baluchistan University of Engineering and Technology Khuzdar. The University students were enrolled in the relief work on the grassroots level. The faculty members were assigned at district level to coordinate with the students. The entire province is divided into 28 districts and 201 Union Councils and each faculty member is looking after one district. Two students looked after one union council. Thus a systematic network was created. This network was supported by volunteers.  Based on our prior experience, the same network if further organized through proper funding and strengthening of communication systems, can make a strong framework to coordinate the relief work more systematically not just in Baluchistan but also in other disaster hit areas when need occurs.

Collaboration With Baluchistan University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)

BUET provided its computer lab, transport, offices, guest house to FMH for collaborative efforts. FMS-NUR has already delivered a 1-week supply of food to 300 families of Naal tehsil.

Through the generous support of the Qarshi Foundation and several individual donors from within the FMS & civil society, NUR, FMH & BUET are also worked with Pakistan Medical Association Khuzdar wing organized a 5 day free medical camp in the tehsil of Naal, which was badly affected by floods.

For More Information: info@nurfoundation.org