SDC – on location worldwide
Visit Swiss Cooperation Office websites.
Visit Swiss Cooperation Office websites.
Switzerland
Search under:
Projects overviewPakistan earthquake
Village shops and sewing machines to alleviate poverty
Project completed
 If reconstruction following the 2005 earthquake is not to be unnecessarily delayed, earthquake victims will need new sources of income. The SDC is providing support for the poorest people in nine very remote villages in northern Pakistan. The population of northern Pakistan is still suffering from the dire consequences of the 2005 earthquake, which claimed 80’000 lives, injured another 80’000, and left more than 2 million people homeless. Reconstruction is proceeding under extraordinarily difficult conditions and also slowly, as many people do not have the basic needs to survive. If they have any money at all, they need it to meet their daily needs; there is virtually nothing left for repair or reconstruction of their homes. The SDC’s Karyana (“Village Shop”) Project provides assistance to people in remote villages who are most in need. Manually operated sewing machines and goods to stock a small village shop help them to earn a small income. Falail un Nisa, a widow from Maidan, expressed her appreciation for SDC’s support: “This is a relief for the most vulnerable people here, especially the women. Now we are no longer so dependent on the willingness of others to offer help.” Falail received a manually operated sewing machine and was quickly able to earn CHF 70 – money that she urgently needed for herself and her five children. Helping to meet basic needs in remote villages Souriya from the village of Shallai must provide for a family of eight. Her husband is disabled, and she lost her oldest son in the earthquake. Among the people in her village she qualifies as particularly needy. With the goods for a tiny shop, she now has a source of income. The basic stock consists of about 30 items. Village residents also appreciate the project, as they no longer have to make the long journey to the next village to buy candles, matches, soap, rice or tea. Women like Falail and Souriya are among those most severely affected by the earthquake. They are fighting for daily survival without the support of their families, and struggling with psychological problems and hopelessness. They frequently have only limited access to information and training, and are not eligible for inheritance. Thus, as widows they are even considered a burden to the village community. Village shops and sewing machines make these women more independent and enhance their position in the community. |
 |
The project in brief Divisions Humanitarian Aid Country / Region Pakistan Partners Village Reconstruction Committee, Implementing organization: HA Project aims Post-earthquake reconstruction of private homes and schools Target group Helping the inhabitants of disadvantaged village communities to develop a livelihood Duration March 2006 – March 2009 Budget 11 million CHF Contact Humanitarian Aid Swiss Cooperation Office Pakistan Phone: +92 51 227 92 80 islamabad@sdc.net www.sdcpakistan.org |
Additional Information and Documents
- Pakistan
Switzerland’s development cooperation with Pakistan began in 1966 and for the past 40 years has focu... - Earthquake in South Asia/Pakistan