Arif Khan helps World Vision identify vulnerable people in the village so their needs can be met.

Arif Khan lives in Lammi Patti, a small village of 350 inhabitants in the municipality of Sum, in the district of Mansehra, North-West Frontier Province. Initially a volunteer, Mr. Khan was hired in spring 2006 by World Vision to play a specific role: identify the most vulnerable individuals in his community and inform the organization. “World Vision is the only organization that came to help the people of my village,” says Mr. Khan. The relief effort began with the distribution of tents, blankets, and sheeting—assistance greatly appreciated by the families of Lammi Patti who, like 2.8 million Pakistanis, lost their homes in the October 8, 2005, earthquake.

With winter approaching, the lives of hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals were threatened. World Vision contributed generously to the huge operation to protect them from the cold. Despite the rough terrain and destroyed roads, the organization succeeded in distributing approximately 4,500 winterized tents, 36,000 blankets, 19,000 sheets of corrugated steel to build temporary shelters, 3,000 hygiene kits and as many household items. More than 77,000 people also received food supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP) through World Vision. In six months of relief operations, World Vision reached more than 31,000 families in all—nearly 143,000 people.

As part of emergency relief efforts, World Vision supplied tents in particular, such as the one beside Gulzar, in the village of Lammi Patti.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) contributed two grants totalling $2.8 million to World Vision’s efforts to distribute tents, blankets, materials for the construction of shelters, and household items.