Josh & Alli's Place

AN UPDATE FROM SCOTT POWELL
(currently in Pakistan)

Yes, we made it out to Malik Ibrahim today....

They have two operating hand-pump wells, but no protective concrete aprons, so they’re probably contaminated with floodwater. We saw that they’re currently digging a new borehole well by hand (using a tripod, twine, some serpentine belts, and a metal bailer). Very cool to see them do that with improvised tools. They’re also building their own shelters with thatch and scavenged sticks. The shelters are pretty crude, but it shows they have initiative. No one else is helping them, so they’re pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.

We had a meeting with the community leaders to hear their needs. Clean water was tops, as well as shelter. We distributed 14 of the Sawyer filters (two per 10-L bucket, see image attached). Lots of other needs, too, so we made a list. More photos here: http://ping.fm/1gQ8R

Looks like FH and ILAP’s shelter, shelter kits, hygiene kits, and kitchen NFIs are all procured and en route sometime next week. ILAP is working on leasing a warehouse in RYK now. They’re hiring people left and right: interpreters, field officers, program managers, cooks, finance folks, you name it.

Tomorrow, ILAP is going on a tour of the affected area with some CRWRC, ERDO, and Mission Aid (Danish) visitors. If we can get a vehicle, the EMI team will be procuring supplies for a demonstration shelter to construct near the new warehouse over Eid. ILAP hopes to settle on that tomorrow, too.

Hope you guys are well!

For His Glory,

-Scott