Flattened school building in which CWS team was carrying our trainings until 1 October, 2005. CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan

Case Study 11: A Close Call…

Date: 22 October 2005
Place: Balakot

The Disaster Response Program is one of the largest programs of Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan. It has responded to many disasters over the years, such as flash floods, earthquakes, cyclones, droughts, village fires, heavy rains, and refugee situations, etc. Although it assists communities in times of disasters in terms of relief and rehabilitation, its emphasis lies in disaster preparedness. The organization invests considerable energies in preparing communities and other organizations for disasters by undertaking capacity-building activities.

World Vision has been a supporter of CWS-P/A in training teachers in disaster preparedness. This partnership has resulted in almost 2,000 teachers being trained in the northern areas of Pakistan. In addition, a six-member CWS-P/A team was carrying out trainings in Balakot for 100 male and female teachers in the month of October 2005. Balakot is one of the towns worst affected from the current earthquake. The school building in which the team was conducting trainings, was completely destroyed in the October 8 earthquake.

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