Jhangi villagers press on in the face of adversity: two years after the quake

The first and strongest wave of the earthquake killed 17 of Jhangi’s villagers, including six children. Every one of the 45 houses in the village was reduced to piles of debris in just few seconds. They considered themselves blessed if they could save their livestock and just a few belongings from the wreckage.

The hail and heavy rain that pounded hard after the earthquake destroyed all their crops just days before the harvest time.

The aftershocks and subsequent series of massive landslides changed the landscape of the village. Green terraces that used to carry maize crops sunk when the mountains shook, and remains of Jhangi’s homes were swallowed up when rocks and dirt tumbled down the mountain walls.

Green terraces that used to carry maize crops sunk when the mountains shook, and remains of Jhangi’s homes were swallowed up when rocks and dirt tumbled down the mountain walls.

The quake also destroyed the village’s water system. Right after the earthquake, the villagers had no water for three days. With the piping system broken, it took a while before a source of water was discovered an hour’s walk up in the mountain.

Two years later, it may not seem like much has been rebuilt. But Jhangi villagers had to start from scratch.

“Everything you see around is new,” says community leader Ghraib Shah, pointing at the few houses, makeshift shelters and modest mosque that mark the landscape.

Only four of Jhangi’s 45 households received the monetary compensation (150,000 rupees, the equivalent of US $2,500) pledged by the government to earthquake-affected families.

The villagers believe the delays are not so much caused by complicated bureaucratic procedures, but the intervention of landlords.

“The landowners stopped the payments,” explains Hakam Shah, a sixty four-year-old tenant farmer. “They said they’d help release the funds from the government, if we paid them half of the money.”

The tenant-landlord feudal system was formally abolished in 1947, when Pakistan came into being as an independent country.

The system remains, however, the painful reality for villagers in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

Last year’s legislation required tenant farmers to have their landlord’s signature on a non-objection certificate (NOC) before they can receive the compensation cheque.

“If they allowed us to receive our cheques, it would be so much easier,” continues Hakam Shan.

Two years later, it may not seem like much has been rebuilt. But Jhangi villagers had to start from scratch.

He says that one of the villagers, a trained mason, is willing to help others rebuild their homes, free of charge. But they still need the money for reconstruction materials.

“People try to save as much as they can, from the little they have. Without any support, it is very hard to say how long it will take to rebuild our homes…. six, maybe ten years?”

Hakam Shah points at the green plots cultivated with maize and vegetables.

“We’ve been working for our landlord’s family for three generations,” Hakam Shah says.

“My parents, and before them my grandparents leveled these hills and made the land ready for crops. I give him [the landlord] half of all I harvest.”

Hakam Shah, standing tall in the golden light of the fall, admits that he never went to school. He cannot read or write. His labored hands never held a book.

“We are so poor, and know nothing in our lives but suffering. My grandchildren shouldn’t have to go through the same struggles, but I can only pray they have a better life.”

It is Ramazan, the holy month of the Muslim faith, a time when fasting and intense prayer bring the faithful closer to God.

In Jhangi, people rebuilt the small mosque in the center of the village, demonstrating that God is at the center of their lives.

Since the earthquake hit them hard, Jhangi villagers have been praying for help to deal with the heavy burden. And their prayers were answered.

Since the earthquake hit them hard, Jhangi villagers have been praying for help to deal with the heavy burden. And their prayers were answered.

World Vision was the only humanitarian organization that addressed the needs in Jhangi, and its intervention has had tangible results in local community’s life.

“Nobody else came here because it is too far and too difficult to reach,” says Ghraib Shah with regret.

First, World Vision included 300 local people from Jhangi and neighboring village of Gali Kettar in an OFDA-funded food-for-work project that rehabilitated a walking path connecting the regional center of Jabori to the remote communities.

Noor Mohammad was happy to participate in World Vision’s project that transformed the narrow footpath in a safer, larger walking track. He received flour, oil, and pulses that improved the family’s meager resources.

“Horses and donkeys could not come up on the narrow path before. Now it’s easier to travel up and down the mountain, and carry the heavy loads from the market,” explains Noor Mohammad.

Then, World Vision, with CIDA support, distributed hygiene kits, kitchen sets, and tool kits for reconstruction to some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Through the same CIDA-funded project, the villagers received agricultural packages, including fertilizers and maize and wheat seeds. Noor Mohammad was able to cultivate the land, and got a good harvest to feed his family.

World Vision, with CIDA support, distributed hygiene kits, kitchen sets, tool kits for reconstruction, and agricultural packages

A training on better agricultural practices organized for men was followed by a kitchen gardening training for women. Farmers also learned about animal health care, and their livestock were vaccinated against contagious diseases.

World Vision is also preparing the community in this disaster-prone area for future emergencies. Ten men and five women from the village are actively involved in the activities of a newly formed disaster management committee.

As his family prepares the evening meal, Maskin Shah sits outside and listens to the radio. The programme aired is part of World Vision’s emergency and disaster mitigation series.

Maskin Shah, the only literate person in Jhangi, says that the villagers paid close attention to the radio series.

He says that, until recently, some families were still living in tents and makeshift shelters on the mountain slope. It was an extremely dangerous area where a landslide could have started any moment, crushing the families and their shelters on its way down the mountain wall.

“After listening to World Vision’s messages, they moved their tents to a different area, and now they are all safe,” says Maskin Shah.

Jhangi people’s resolution never fails to impress Fiaz Mohammad, World Vision’s community development officer, who knows best this community’s needs and dreams.

“These people can teach us a lesson on courage,” says Fiaz Mohammad. “They face problems most of us cannot even imagine.”

Indeed, the list of needs in Jhangi is long: electricity, sanitation, health facilities are just some of the pressing priorities.

Fiaz mentions that the closest health clinic is in Jabori, three hours away from Jhangi.

“If there is an emergency, they put the sick person on a charpoy (wooden bed frame, with interlaced ropes of local fibers) and carry him or her on their shoulders.”

Before the walking path was rehabilitated, it was impossible to walk down the steep narrow track, one foot in front of the other.

In Jhangi, it takes a lot even to survive. But these people find the strength to keep their aspirations alive.

“They told me about one time when they rushed towards Jabori with a sick lady, a mother of four. She died on the way, so they carried her body back to the village.”

Still, the people in Jhangi believe that access to education is their first priority, and water their second.

“In Jhangi, it takes a lot even to survive. But these people find the strength to keep their aspirations alive.”

Fiaz says that God wants us to try to make the best of our lives, and to strive for a better tomorrow, just like the people in Jhangi do.

“And He created us to help each other, and this is what we have to do for the people in Jhangi.”