eatrhquake in gujarat

Social entrepreneurs including Ashoka Fellows were among the first to respond to the Kashmir earthquake. They are creating one of the most

Photo © Anshu Gupta Devastation from the 2001 Gujarat earthquake

effective disaster recovery programs now operating on the ground by building a cooperative network that links their local grassroots networks throughout the region with national and international relief and redevelopment programs of businesses and government organizations.

This multilevel response to disaster has evolved during recent calamities including the Indian Ocean tsunami and earthquakes in Turkey and India. It provides an agile response that supplies reliable, professionally-structured and timely support to survivors.

Devastation from the 2001 Gujarat earthquake An estimated 25 percent of housing units in an area with a population of 107,000 have been completely destroyed and require immediate attention. The housing and livelihoods of many more survivors have suffered and they require assistance to counter the coming winter.

Devastation from the 2001 Gujarat earthquake The government regards this region as a frontier territory administered by the local tribal council, which had imposed a ban on interventions by outside citizen sector organization. It had threatened villagers with fines of up to Rs.20,000 if they worked with outside organizations.

Devastation from the 2001 Gujarat earthquake

These volunteers transported relief goods worth Rs.2.7 million to survivors. They provided first aid to more than 3,000 injured survivors and assisted with 50 burials in more than 100 affected villages of the Shangla, Batgram, and Mansehra districts.

Needed: Sturdy Shelter for the Winter
Technical Assistance to Rebuild Safely

Thousands of people are living in temporary makeshift shelters—wooden poles with blankets covering insulation made of plastic sheets and/or matting. These people are both landless and lacking shelter. Rather than move to the government camps they have decided to stay nearby their homes.

Photo © Anshu Gupta