Jan 06, 2006

MIRACLES IN KASHMIR

Kashmir / Pakistan
10-17 Jan 2006
Team 9 – Dr Benjamin Leong, Jolyn Chua
Written by: Jolyn Chua

The first day we arrived in Kashmir on 11 Jan 2006, while halfway on the 5-hour van journey to Mang Bajeri in Kashmir, we met with a road accident on a hilly road near Arja. A small truck had turned out suddenly and hit us as we were going downhill. Our van driver braked and the van swerved to the side, but thankfully, we stopped in time and did not swerve over the cliff. The van was slight dented on the left hand front corner, but we were safe and unhurt.

We were very fortunate, especially in terms of the weather! By some divine intervention, our local host had already planned our schedule for us to trek up the mountains to do mobile clinics only on Thursday and Saturday, and the weather was bright and sunny on both of those days! On the other days where we planned to stay in camp and do clinic at camp, the weather was less favourable. It was cloudy and cold on Fri, and it rained the entire day on Sunday, which meant the sandy and steep hill tracks would be wet, muddy and very slippery, not ideal for trekking at all. In most parts of Kashmir and Pakistan, winter was actually delayed for about three weeks, which allowed more time for the much-needed supplies to reach the people. About two weeks before our trip, there was snow at the Mang Bajeri base camp on three days. Thankfully, the week that we were there, there was no snow at all, so it was not overly cold for us and the Kashmiris. However, we did see have the opportunity to see snow as we were passing through Murree, a mountainous area with many tall peaks.

We also had the chance to visit Rosana, the 27-year-old lady with epilepsy. She was bedridden for one year, very weak and regularly had three epileptic fits a day. After the first team that visited her in December 2005 left her, miraculously, in the next three days that followed, she did not have a single fits attack at all! And since then, she has been put on epilepsy medication specially bought for her and different teams have gone up to help her do physiotherapy and her condition has continued to improve greatly! Now, not only was she smiling when visited her, she was seated upright in her bed, and even able to stand up and walk around the house! So far, she only has one mild attack every two weeks or so. A true miracle! What a drastic difference it has made to her life! Overall, we had a very good trip. We saw and treated over 200 patients from numerous villages.

Dec 25, 2005

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE IN KASHMIR.

In Kashmir, generosity operates on a different level. Even after an earthquake. At every house we stopped at during our relief trip in November, we were insistently told to sit down and offered trays of butter biscuits and chai carefully sweetened with buffalo milk. The families were dirt-poor. But their sons scrambled off into the forest to gather armfuls of tangerines and walnuts for us. At many houses, fathers insisted we stay the night.

Perhaps this was the biggest thing that struck us as we played our role as a humanitarian group. Even around us, our local partners were people like Shahid and Samson. Shahid comes from a slum in Islamabad. A father of two toddlers, he left his family the day after the earthquake and has been in Kashmir since then. Samson sewed leather jacket in Karachi and left his job for two weeks to go to Kashmir. Shahid and Samson were members of our local partner Calvary Charismatic Church (CCC), the Pakistani daughter church of the Victory Family Centre Singapore.

We met them in mid-November 2005, when as the third CRS team, the six of us arrived in the Mong Bajri valley, 20km from Bagh in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. With local Kashmiris leading us, we trekked to the villages around the valley. These were alpine villages of mud and concrete houses perched by terraced wheat fields. The once picturesque scene is now marred by destruction. Houses are now piles of logs and stone. Their residents peek out from under thin canvas tents. A woman was crying for her two buffalos lost in the earthquake. On a hilltop, schoolgirls decked in red headscarves and baby blue robes restarted school squatting in rows on the dirt ground. Behind them, their school sits as a pile of rubble. In Class Four, where 17 out of 19 girls died, the two surviving girls squatted by themselves at the back.

Going from house to house, we surveyed each family’s needs and issued vouchers for blankets, tents and zinc sheets accordingly. Distribution of relief supplies was done at base camp. This approach was speedy and allowed us to visit 40 villages in total. It also prevented families from hogging supplies. At the same time, we administered first aid, often revisiting them a few days later to change dressings and give more medicine. By the end of our trip, in partnership with CCC and a Korean partner church, we had given out the following:
• 280 tents
• 1100 blankets
• 1000 mattresses
• 200 food packages*
• 1000 pieces of iron sheets (for roofing purpose as the tents will not hold up the snow in winter)

*Food packages consist of 20 kg of flour, 5 kg of rice, 5 liter of cooking oil, 5 kg of sugar, 450 gram of tea, 4 kg of lentils, 1 kg of milk powder, match box as well as soap bar.
In the coming weeks, another 1400 pieces of iron sheets, 1500 blankets, 300 pieces of tarpaulins (water proof sheets for tents covering) and more food and tents will be distributed.

Even as Mong Bajri begins to receive the first snowfall of a three-month long Himalayan winter, CRS is planning more relief trips, as long as there are volunteers and doctors willing to go.
We are also planning for the Rehabilitation Phase after winter ends in March next year. In close consultation with our partners, we are considering the following:
• Replacing animal livestock (goats and cows).
• Back to school program (school bag, books, stationary).
• Providing big tents for schools to conduct lessons.
• Provide materials for the rebuilding of houses.
• Kitchen ware and hygiene pack.

Contributed by Ng Tze Yong (CRS Bagh Team 3)

Our local hosts from Calvary Charismatic Church in partnership with CRS has been working continuously in the hills around Mong Bajiri, Bagh in Azad Kashmir since mid October 2005. Here is some of the feedback received from the local people whom we have reached out to.

From Village Chour Teh Dhirkot, District Bagh Azad Kashmir

“My village and the people from Hira Public School are very grateful to you and your team for all your help. Words cannot express our gratitude and thanks to you.”

Sardar Muhammad Ayaz Khan, Advocate Supreme Court

From village of Dahar (Bangoin)

“You are the first people to come to our village. We are very happy that you have come to help treat our people. And with the metal sheets, we can now rebuild our houses. With foreigners coming here, it also gives our people greater exposure to foreign culture and advancement, and help accelerate growth.”

Mahfooz Khan

Team Members:
Tien Der-wei, Alwin
Victor Teo
Michael Sim

From 19-26 Nov 2005, our team made a trip to Pakistan. The time spent there was indeed a time of blessing. Many of us became comrade-in-arms, be it within our own Singapore team, our Pakistani brothers from Calvary Charismatic Church, or the Korean medical team we lament having only one day to spend with. It was amazing how the varied group of 3 nationalities was able to come together so well because of the common calling we have. While time was short, the bonding we shared was special. During our stay, 3 Singaporeans and 7 Pakistanis ventured into the hill areas of Bagh, looking for those in need, so that redeemable vouchers for aid could be given to them. We amaze at how the little medical aid we provide could be so important to them. As we walk through the destruction caused by the earthquake, we lament for the people who suffered such great loss, be it their personal property, or worse, their loved ones. We act only as hapless bystanders attempting to salvage the little we can. Hence we go on our venture to give a little comfort, and we rejoice as we see the people receive aid during distribution, like mattresses, blankets and metal sheets. We see their strength as they lug the immense weight on their backs to carry back to the hills. We pray this strength tide them through the upcoming cold winter months too. There are many who do not have enough, such as a group of 40 teachers seeking tents to survive the winter. It was a worrying period as we ran out of tents. It was only after assistance from fellow NGOs that we managed to source the tents for them, so now we give thanks for the tents they have. There are so many we wish well for, for everyone we met, be it our soldier friends from the army barrack we stayed, the villagers we met, the students studying in the collapsed school, the Pakistani brothers of Calvary Charismatic Church, and the Korean medical team. They have indeed been a blessing to us during our stay. Article by Alwin Tien

Everyday it is a challenge getting out of the warm sleeping bag, so it depends on who has the courage to get out of the comfortable sleeping bag and tent first, he or she will boil the water so that everyone in the base camp can wash up with warm water. Someone will also boil the water for the hot drink and share and serve each other; coffee, cereal or milo. Breakfast is free and easy, just dig into the food box and find what you fancy or wait for our local guys to buy bread and cook the omelet. One day we found a packet of otak paste and everyone agrees that it goes well with the bread and everyone was perked up and all ready for the day’s activity.

Morning devotion is usually around 8 am with worship alternating between English and Urdu and then a time of sharing.

As we are there to serve and to support our local host, Shahid the Base Camp Coordinator will decide on the villages that we will be going for the day. It could be nearby where we will just walk from the camp to hike up the mountain or it could be an hour drive by van or jeep before we begin the hike. We went to new places to assess needs but some day we went back to villages we have visited to change dressings for those whom the doctors have dressed. Shahid has amazing memory and he remembered who need their dressings changed. We packed our food ration for the day; water, energy bar, chocolate, fruits. We also pack simple medication such as vitamins, pain killer, antiseptic creams, eye drops and dressing sets to do simple first aid along the way. Usually when we reached the village, we split into smaller teams so that we can cover all the households in the village. We go from house to house to ask them about their needs and our local partner will go into the house to verify their requested needs and issue coupons according. The relief supplies given are iron sheets (8 pieces per household), tents, blankets, mattresses or food (flour, rice, sugar, cooking oil and tea). Surprisingly they were very open and we have the opportunity to pray with them, to ask God to bless their family and heal them. A few of the women were reduced to tears because of the loss of their loved ones and their houses. They were extremely hospitable and most household would offer us ‘chai’ (tea) and biscuits. When they see us coming, they will bring out their chairs, cleaned them and offer to make tea for us. We tried to reach base camp about 530 pm which is already dark and cold. In total we have covered 40 villages whether it is for medical or survey of needs.

Usually our host will cook for us, but for the first few days, we cook our own dinner as there are just too many of us (Koreans and ourselves) for them to cater. The key to good partnership are sensitivity, flexibility and accommodative.

The Koreans arrived at the same day as us, so 7 of us and 7 of them plus 7 from CCC Karachi Church and 5 others, it certainly was busy at the Base Camp.

Early evening, someone would have started a fire and all of us would naturally gather around the fire to talk about our day while waiting for dinner to be ready. Fire fellowship continues throughout the evening, we usually have our debrief around 8 pm and by 9pm most of us will seek the warm and comfort of our tents and sleeping bags.

Through our sharing, the testimonies that touch my heart most are the following 2 testimonies:

Malik

He is a young man of 19 years old living in Darlakot Village, about an hour walk from our base camp. He told us that on the day of the earthquake, he and his brother ran outside to help their neighbors. After which they went to Bagh town to see how they can help. He was saddened by the widespread looting, everyone for himself. He saw a woman pinned under some structure, the people instead of helping her took her jewelries. When the Koreans came to his village to give out blankets and mattresses, he was deeply touched; foreigners came all the way to render help as compared to his people. The Koreans left medicine for the dispensary but the person in charge instead of using them to help his people, sold the medicine for his own gain. Malik could not do anything as he could not communicate with the Koreans as he does not speak English. He decided that he would come down to help the foreigners instead. Since late October, he has been helping us; guiding us to the villages, helping in the cooking and washing of the dishes. At first he would come during the morning but now he considers himself as one of the volunteers, eating and sleeping with our hosts and joining in our devotion!

Morris

He is in the Army attached to the Squadron that we based our camp. He is a believer. When the earthquake happened, he told God that he wanted to help. However, as he was in the Army, he is not free to help. He offered his blood for the victims but it was not needed. God answered his prayer when our host came to set up base in his Squadron. He was sent to be a guide when we go into the mountain. Now, he is very much a part of the team, eating and sleeping with our host and joining in the daily devotion. He is a great asset to the team, carrying the heaviest backpack, cooking and unloading the relief supplies. He is a very humble man and goes about doing his things quietly. He dug the toilets for the base camp and took upon himself to scrub the toilet clean so that we are comfortable.

One day, he was told that he was to go to the border. He was saddened to leave the work unfinished. He shared that Jesus while He was on earth completed his task, so similarly he would like to complete his task here before he leaves. Our host prayed for him before he was to go away. Last minute, news came that he was allowed to continue to be our guide!

As in previous CRS projects, our strategy is to team up with a credible local partner who is committed to help the people in the disaster area on a longer term basis beyond immediate relief.
CRS will provide whatever help within its means to assist the local partner to do their work. In this way, CRS seeks to establish continuity of help to the survivors of the earthquake for a longer term impact.

In conclusion, we have decided to work in Bagh, Kashmir with one of the local partner who has been there for the last 16 years or more. We will be setting up base camp at this place, Mong Bajery (about 20 km from Bagh town). The plan is to provide immediate relief till the winter comes (around end November) and the road will be closed. The relief will be two pronged; medical as well as in the form of relief supplies. For medical, we will run medical clinic from our base camp as well as mobile clinic to the surrounding villages (for those who are injured and are unable to come down to the base camp). Medical work has already started with a doctor and nurse now stationed there. A team of 3 doctors together with 2 other volunteers will be leaving 29 October. Relief supplies like tents, blankets, tarpaulin, mattress and food (to last them for the winter) will be given out. These will be carried to the villages with the help of the mules (The Army camp which we are based is in charge of Animal Transport).

Our plan is to continue the relief effort way into the reconstruction phase; providing schooling materials and helping them to rebuild their lives.