Two Years After the Earthquake in Pakistan Reconstruction Efforts Continue

October 8, 2007—Islamabad, Pakistan Two years ago today a massive earthquake, measuring 7.6 , hit northern Pakistan. The earthquake caused widespread devastation and killed more than 82,000 people and destroyed more than 600,000 homes and thousands of schools. In response Shelter For Life International (SFL) is in the process of completing 10 schools with a 1.5 million dollar grant from PLAN international for approximately 2,500 students and is helping thousands of families to rebuild their homes. Earlier this year the UN-HABITAT (United Nations Center for Human Settlements) awarded Shelter For Life International (SFL) a $400,000 grant to provide technical training to hundreds of artisans and skilled laborers in earthquake resistant building techniques and to assist thousands of families in Northern Pakistan to rebuild their homes using earthquake mitigation techniques. So far SFL has trained more than 1,000 skilled labors and artisans in earthqauke mitigation techniques and a total of more than 29,000 self builders.

New 2 Million Dollar Grant Awarded by PLAN International for 12 Schools

On October 1, 2007 Shelter For Life International (SFL) began work on a new 2 million dollar grant from PLAN International for 12 additional schools for almost 1,750 students in the remote hill country of northern Pakistan. Construction in the rural mountainous areas is a constant challeng- many sites are so remote that they can only be reached by mule, and the weather challenges efforts with snow in the winter, and endless rain and landslides in the monsoon.

Read more about our work in Pakistan in our Where We Serve: Pakistan pages.