| BasicNeeds recently commenced a project for organisations working with disaster-affected communities in Pakistan and seeking to provide mental health services. The first stage was a training program for 31 participants held in Karachi in September and early October. The idea originated in the aftermath of the 2010 floods but coincided with a period of abnormally heavy rains in Sindh Province. The rains have led to a disaster which has not attracted media attention in the way the 2010 floods did, but is also severe in its impacts.
The statistics make sobering reading. Over 2 million people are affected with 750,000 living in temporary shelters because 400,000 homes have been completely destroyed. The course participants are experienced practitioners in these situations and brought their own knowledge to the training sessions, which ran for ten days including a visit to flood-affected communities (see images on this page).
The program operates through a partnership between BasicNeeds and HANDS, a major Pakistani NGO. The training team comes from BasicNeeds for which Steve Fisher of Community Works is team leader. It concludes in May 2012.
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