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Outside Balakot, Pakistan, in a "tent city" supported by Church World Service, a woman pours hot beverages for her family, bringing both sustenance and a degree of normalcy to their lives. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT-CWS

Fatima’s Determination…

February 27, 2006

Fatima Bibi used to live in a village called Kanshian, in Mansehra District, before the October 8 earthquake.  Now she lives in Hassa camp near the town of Balakot.  Everyone who meets her admires her incredible strength and determination.  Fatima’s story is unique because it is about her courage to survive.

When the quake hit, Fatima lost her house, her livestock, and her crops.  Two of her sons and one daughter were severely injured.  When no hope remained for surviving in their hometown, they decided to leave their village.  Now, she, her husband, and their 9 children are living in a single tent in Hassa camp.  As painful as her experience has been, she has faced these problems with bravery and a determination to make the best of everything.

In the camp, she and her family have received shelter, food, clothes, and medical treatment.  As soon as life in the camp reached some level of normalcy, she sent her husband back to the village to search for her most cherished belonging.  It was her treasured sewing machine, which had been buried under the rubble.  Although the sewing machine had been damaged, Fatima was determined to repair it herself.  Not surprising to those who have met her, Fatima succeeded in fixing her old machine.  Now she is sewing clothes in the camp and earning enough money to support her family and meet their daily expenses.

Although Fatima has faced tremendous loss, her resilience and willpower have been an inspiration to all.  She is happy and thankful that God has given her the opportunity to help her family and the people around her.

Church World Service has provided more than 24,500 winterized family tents and more than 14,000 family food kits to assist survivors like Fatima and her family.  CWS has also provided blankets and plastic sheeting, as well as warm sweaters, hats, shoes, and socks purchased within the region.  Additional support is needed for emergency relief and long-term recovery efforts in Pakistan.

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