Houston, Texas: U.S. Based Helping Hand For Relief & Development (HH) has established an unique Ten Village for more than 1,000 persons, who have been affected by military action in the northwestern part of Pakistan. This Tent Village has been constructed in Mairaj Colony Takht Bhai and conforms to the latest standards of WASH (Water and Sanitation Hygiene). It has been established through donations received by HH from USA, Canada and England.
Due to scorching heat, tents tend to become very hot, making it very difficult to live inside. HH has used a special covering on top (called Siaban), which provides shade to the tents from the sizzling sun and fans inside the Tents keep them cool.
The Tent Village has been erected in a distinctive style, where a Complex is made out of five tents to create a Joint Family System (considering the customs of the people of the area). Separate kitchen and washrooms are provided for each compound. Each compound is given food and non-food items and they can cook their own food in the manner they like.
Initially more than 1,000 persons have been housed in about 20 compounds, while work is underway to accommodate another 200 persons. Most of these people were earlier either living with host families or at makeshift camps in schools, but since their stay have been extended, they needed a better shelter and this HH Mairaj Colony Takht Bhai.
Helping Hand Tent Village in Takht Bhi further consists of Schools for Girls and Boys; Play Ground for Children and a Community Center with HH Office and Clinic. Two Masjids are already present in the area. Technical Training Center is being considered, with about ten Sewing Machines, so as to keep the women busy in something useful. Idea is to bring as much normalcy to the lives of IDPs as much possible.
All this was informed by Fazlur Rahman, Country Director of HH in Pakistan at a simple ceremony to inaugurate Helping Hand Mairaj Colony Takht Bhai Tent Village. For more information and your donations, please visit www.HelpingHandOnline.Org