Nadeem Shah

"As we stepped from the vehicle, the silence hit me like a physical blow. More brutally shocking than even the visual horror, the sounds of life had been ripped away. No murmuring river of everyday voices. The birds had scattered, even the dogs weren't barking. Time had stopped. Normally irrepressible children stood unmoving. The earth had shouted and raged, punished those around them with a roaring vengeance, and in mute incomprehension, they dared not speak, or laugh, or play."

If you would like to find out more about Nadeems experiences, and about Ahsan The Miracle Child, please contact us to order a copy of the book "Earthquake" by Nadeem Shah"

Shazia Adeel. (28)

I was injured in the earthquake. When earth started shaking, I ran into the house to save my baby boy who was sleeping in the house. I picked the baby and was running out when house collapsed. Both I and my baby were buried under the debris. I was shocked, and it was pit dark. I was unable to think that, what had happen. Now it seems like a dream. Both me and my baby were under the burden of debris. A rafter was crossing across my back and I was unable to move. I felt a certain death. I heard my mother-in-law and other family members screaming out side. After some time I noticed a ray of light coming in through the rubble. Few minutes later, I was pulled out of the fallen house. My baby survived unhurt, but I was unable to move. My back was injured. I had been in hospital for more than six months. Now I am able to move and do little works at home.

There are so many problems. My husband used to work in Rawal Pindi. After the earthquake he came back. He remained with me in the hospital for an extended period to time. Both my children were with my mother- in-law. She took good care of them all this period. After I was discharged from the hospital, we came back to the village. We shared the temporary shelter with my in-laws. My husband and other family members constructed a single room shelter home for us. My husband has lost his job. There is no source of income. We have things, hardly enough to survive. No utensils and other necessary items of daily use. Life has become very difficult having no permanent home or source of income. I am very much worried and think what will happen next? My husband can either work or try to build house. He has to do every thing alone. I don't expect any additional help, because everybody is busy. I am confused and do not know what is the solution of all these problems. God is master He will solve the problems I hope.

Shamim Akhter. (49).

My husband is a laborer. Life was not easy though before the earthquake but at least I had a house to live in. It has gone now. We live in a shelter home. My husband is busy collecting the material for the construction of the house. We have a daughter with us. My other daughter and a son are married. We have nothing left. Not even a needle. Relief work of different NGOs has stopped. Now we are trying to survive some how. My husband cannot go for work as he has to build house. He is always busy in digging, collecting stones, and arranging for timber, sand cement etc. I don't see a way out of this plight. But we are like all other people, who are going through same situation. I hope God will help and create resources.

Shaheena (35)

My husband has started his business again. He is a baker and works in Chinari. So I get some money. What can I do with the money when I have no house? I asked my husband to build a house first and than think about the business or anything else, but he has his own ideas. I am worried for the coming winter. It is impossible to survive in this temporary shelter. There is no manpower available for construction work. It is a hard and difficult work. Ladies can not do it. And all men are busy for arranging their own requirements. I am confused and worried about my children who remain sick for most of the time. There is not enough space to sit or sleep. I cook meals outside and when it rains, we lit fire in side the room where we all sleep and sit. Life has become an agony.

Alfnoor. (75+)

I have a bed in my son's shelter. My son is in army, and I live with his wife and children. I never thought that life will be so miserable at this last stage. It is absolutely different and difficult than before the earthquake. I need some one to look after me because now I don't have stamina to tolerate the hardships. Day before yesterday, I went out to go to the toilet. Suddenly my foot slipped and I injured my arm and knee. I cannot help my family in anything. It is getting cold and I feel it very much. Therefore I sit out here in the sun whenever there are no clouds or rain. I get ordinary food to eat. Thanks to Allah otherwise I did not forget starving for four days after earthquake. I have seen many ups and downs of the life, but this is most difficult time of my life. May God bless all human beings on this earth and May he take mercy upon us. .

Sharoza. (33)

Ask what the problem we don't have is. House is destroyed and what ever was there in the house is ruined. We have to start from nothing in hand. Children are innocent and do not understand the hardship we are going through. Some times they demand things like before. Now we have no basic items. No place to keep things of daily use. Single room is not enough to sit, sleep, and cook. Laborers are not available, material is expensive, and difficult to bring from far distance. I don't know what is going to happen, and how our life would be back on track. It is very depressing situation. Needs are unlimited and resources are nil. God only knows what will be the life in future. Who has time to think about coming days? I am worried about present of the life.

Ajab Nisa. (49)

Life is miserable. We spent all the money we had during last winter to survive from the cold and snow. Now government has compensated some people but we did not get anything. I don't know why. My husband says that there was some kind of flaw in the forms. May be he did not pay the share (bribe) to the concerning officers. Now he is running from door to door to seek justice. Luckily I have a temporary shelter home of two rooms, and I hope I shall be able to survive during winter. Since we did not get any money from government, my husband is not worried about purchase of the material and construction. Those who got the compensation are suffering more than us. They have to bring the material according to the specifications of the reconstruction authority, which is not an easy task. Although life is very different and difficult from before, yet we are one family among thousands of others. I would have complained if I were the only one. Luckily I have not lost any family member in the quake. I hope good time will come after this phase of agony.

Nighat Saleem (28)

I have weak eyesight. My husband is also mentally handicapped. Community used to help us before. Now every one needs help therefore I don't expect something from the community. Now I stay with my parents in their shelter. We have tents as well. Life before the earthquake was stable and much easier. People were nice and kind. They used to take care of each other. Now every one is in great hurry running and desperately attempting to go back to the normal life. Few seconds of the earth shaking has put the life in opposite direction. People were content and kind. Now nobody has time to think about other people. I have no children; therefore I don't feel much problem. But still I can say that life has become difficult.

(Nighat, eagerly talked with me in front of her temporary shelter home and was happy that I went there to meet her).

To find out about the behavior of children, the school head master S. M. Azad Gilani was contacted who eagerly answered the asked questions. Here is his brief interview.

Q: What is apparent change in the attitude and psychology of the children comparatively before and after the earthquake? And what role you and your colleagues play to normalize the children's psychology.

A: Well I feel that the children were very happy, and well adjusted before the earthquake. Now one can easily see disappointment in their eyes. They do not talk about their domestic problems. I guess they do not know the hardships of the life. But they have become very sensitive now. They are afraid of any banging sound, loud voice of teachers, or any sudden movement of even black board. They are depressed and terrorized. Many of them have become fussy and spoilt. They start crying for just a minor thing. Now they complain too much against each other. They are not care full about their cleanliness. Still a lot of them look traumatized and phobic.

Q: Do you feel any improvement with the passage of time?

A: Yes, fifty percent or I would say more than that, towards normality. But I think it will take some more time. Children still miss their old life style, when they had houses with much more comfort than that of today. Now they live in single room temporary shelter homes. Perhaps parents and other people talk about their problems in children presence, which also affects their mentality. Uncertain future is big concern among the people and this is talk of the town. Certainly children listen to it and they are also confused. But I see a positive change and a continuous improvement.

Q: What about attendance?

A: Satisfactory. It is back to normal. In the beginning soon after earthquake, we had only half a dozen students. But now it is like before. More than hundred and fifty students are attending the school. But one thing is very common that they like to sit out side. Not even the tents. We also do not force them. So we take classes out here under these shady trees. However in case of rain we sit inside the temporary building and tents. I feel they are getting use to it and sooner they will not be phobic of the school building.

Q: Do they share their problems with teachers?

A: Not much. They stay quiet. However, if asked they do speak about their problems. But some of them, not all.

Q: Have you ever over-heard them talking about their old school, friends or that sort of things.

A: God! Many times. They talk among themselves about the day of earthquake. They repeatedly discuss the falling school, shaking desks, collapsing walls, and screaming fellow children. They talk about their lost friends and their eyes become full of tears. They miss their lost friends.

Q: How do you treat the children?

A: We try to be kind and generous to the children. We ignore minor mistakes and neglect if they are not clean or do not have uniforms on. We also try to make them laugh and play.

Q: Is there anything you have noticed as a hurdle towards bringing them back to normality?

A: Rumours are the big hurdle. Children become scared when they hear that another earthquake is going to hit the area sooner or later. We cannot do anything to stop these nonsense rumours. However we try to motivate the children that no body knows about an earthquake. And that every thing is from God. And He is and was not cruel. It was a test from Him. He wanted to forgive the deceased and bestow his affluence to them. He has taken them to haven. And He wants to give us reward for our patience and belief. He always tests the loyalty, by destroying our properties, killing our relatives and dears, ruining our crops and fruits, making us sick, and forcing terror and hunger. But at the end He forgives all out sins and mistakes. And rewards us with His blessings...

Children

Asad Zaman (14). S/O Shah Zaman.

I have the books and note books. Some of them are provided by UNICEF and some are arranged by my parents I am okay with my uniform and other requirements of the school. I have three siblings. My parents are kind to me. They provide me with every thing. However we have only one room shelter, where I cannot give my full attention to the lessons. I miss my old home and my friends who passed away in the earthquake. I want to get education as much as I could. I think the future will be good for us. I do not mind if I do not get something. I know that all is destroyed and people are suffering from a lot of problems. So many people have died and things are buried under the houses. I eat whatever is available, and don't tease my parents by demanding something not present in the house.

Aasim Farooq (13). S/O. M. Farooq.

I have books and uniform. My father is working in electricity department. I remember the earthquake and feel scared of it. We are two brothers and one sister. My parents treat me kindly. There is no change in their attitude before and after the earthquake. My sister is sick and needs blood transfusion after every some time. No body died in my family, but some sixteen relatives died in the earthquake. My mom arranges everything for me. Teachers have good attitude. I am a little bit worried about the future, because it is difficult to build home like previous one. Which I liked, and now miss it very much.

Ali.Haseeb Al Hassan. (7-1/2). S/O Sadaqat Ali.

I am not afraid of earthquake. But I don't like it to happen again. Both my parents are teachers. They provide me books and uniform. I live in a shelter home and miss my old house. My old house was beautiful. I don't like this new shelter home. This is small and I have no place to put my things separately.

I miss my cousin who died in the earthquake. I want my parents to build new house quickly, but people say that every body has to build themselves. My father is not a mason, but he says that he will get one to build our new house.

Shoaib Imtiaz. (8). S/O Imtiaz.

I was away with my parents in the earthquake. When we came back, our house was not there. All my things were there and are destroyed. Now my father has built small house and I have joined the village school. I have the books but not uniform. Tailors have no machines to stitch the cloth, and my mom's sewing machine is broken. Every body's machines are broken in their houses. I tell the teacher whenever he asks me for uniform. My parents are kind to me and they give me whatever I need. I don't tease my parents because I know that people have no money to buy new things. My mom cooks good food but not as good as before. She says that we should not reject anything and should be thankful to God for what ever we get to eat and wear. I do not tease my parents for any thing because I know that they have no money, and there is no place to buy things. I miss my old house, and my daddy says he will build beautiful house soon.

Gul Shaheen (12). D/O Tasawer Shaheen.

I live in shelter home, because our house had collapsed. I have all the books and uniform for school. My mother is very loving and she arranges for every thing for me. My father is abroad and has not come after earthquake. My uncles and other relatives take care of everything. I give a helping hand to my mother after I finish my school work. Our old house was beautiful, and I liked it. People say that children should not worry about any thing. Therefore I am not worried. I think my parents will soon build a nice home. I am afraid of earthquake and I remember everything. It was terrible. I wish it should not happen again. Many times I dream of the earthquake. I know that the people have lost everything, and their houses are destroyed. They have only few things which were provided by other people. That is why I do not demand for any thing. I eat what ever I get. Unluckily our market place is destroyed and some time it is difficult to get things from here. This is big problem.

Ammara Gilani. (11). D/O Azad Gilani.

I got some books from school, and some my parents brought for me. I live in our old house, because it was repaired. I remember the earthquake. I was in the school that time. I escaped uninjured but many of my school friends were injured. I miss those who died. But what can we do? It was God's will. I liked my school which is not there any more. I don't demand anything which is not available. I know that people have lost every thing. Therefore I do not insist for anything.

Nabila Sarwer. (12). D/O Muhammad Sarwer.

I have all the books and school uniform. My parents arrange of what I need. They are very kind and there is no change in their attitude after the earthquake. I was in the school when all of the sudden everything started falling. It was scary and I still remember everything. I do not demand for any thing from my parents because I know that they have a lot of thing to do. We have to build our house. And buy things which have been destroyed under the debris of our collapsed house. I have noticed that my parents are also worried like all other people. Every body is busy in collecting different things. I help my mom in house hold works after I go back home from school. I miss my school fellows who have died in the earthquake. People say that it will happen again, and it terrifies me. Sometimes I wake up during night when I dream of the earthquake.

Iram. (14). D/O Muhammad Hussain.

I was in the school when suddenly the school wall collapsed and I was buried under. I was unable to understand what had happened. I became unconscious and do not know when and who took me out of the school. My leg was fractured and it was very painful. My mom and two of my nephews died when our house collapsed. My brother and sister-in-law were also badly injured. After many days I was taken to hospital. I shall never be able to forget the agony and pain of injured leg for so many days. I remained in hospital for more than a month. I miss my house and my mom. I still feel pain in my leg, but it is not that bad. I wake up many times during night. I see nightmares almost every night and am very afraid of the earthquake. I do not want to tease my father for anything. He is already very sad. Now I am happy that I can walk to my school. I have the books and uniform. My father and brothers have built a small shelter home and we live there.