Village of White Stone: Camp Chitta Batta, United Pakistan Relief Work

Asia » Pakistan » Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
March 17th 2006

Published: March 31st 2006

Hello our Canadian Friends & Family!!! We are happy to report that we are safe, sound and fully showered! This past week Galib and I volunteered our time to assist at Camp Chitta Batta, an earthquake affectee relief camp due to the earthquake that occurred for 20 minutes and killed over 240,000 people on October 8, 2005. 7.5 million people were displaced. These past 5 days have been an unbelie... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 43, Displayed: 21

Frontier Police

These were the wonderful gentlemen providing us 24 hour protection at the Camp

Galib and his new friends

These boys would follow Galib around in hopes that he would play ball with them...he did!

Rabina

This little one had the cutest cheeks!

The facilities

Oh yeah, manual flush. Squatting is good for the quads

GB getting cozy

It was -5, maybe even colder at nighttime...BRRRRR! We wore 2 layers of clothing, gloves, toques & scarves, NO heat, NO campfire, NO hot water, thought I was going to get frostbite, we also thought the tent would blow or wash away it was so windy & pouring buckets each night!

This was a different camp

We did a site visit to this camp sponsored by Muslim Hands. No camp management. No gravel. Open defacation behind the camp. It's horrible living conditions. Our shoes and pants were completely covered in MUD after visiting this camp. Clumps and clumps of mud. The tentees only have sandals or walk in their bare feet in this muck.

Elder in the Muslim Hands Camp

This elder lost his whole family, but still a very proud man

Army Camp

This camp was set up by the military. Fully functional, running smoothly, lots of resources

Kashmir Mountains

Galib & Cin at the valley

Camp Chitta Batta

Another view of the tents

Warehouse

We brought supplies donated by WJ Mouatt and purchased medicines and juice with funds donated by RYSA & our families

The road beside our tent

So we are situated 5 feet from a major highway. Horns ablazing throughout the night...not your regular horn either, it is LOUD, LONG and crazy sounding...like something from the circus. If it wasn't the horns all night, there was a call for prayer 5 times a day on the loud speaker from the mosque next door, dogs and wolves howling throughout the night...thank goodness for earplugs!!!

School

Not all kids go to the school, so volunteers go around the tents and suggest that they go

Thank goodness for Girl Guides

All I can say is that I was prepared. Prepared to sleep in a tent, bring my own TP, and not take a shower for 5 days!!! Gotta love nature!

The boy

The older boy would hang around me and ask me to take his picture. He loved seeing himself on the camera and would smile. He also has a great singing voice which we observed in class

Lunch

Ejaz & co-horts made the best Naan. Fresh food daily, no refrigeration here!

Boys of the Camp

Here are some of the boys in the Camp. They loved hanging around GB!

UNHCR standards

This is makeshift fencing. Anyone can get through the plastic and it is not very durable in high winds and rain

Kynot & Cinnamon

Kynot means "the universe" in Hinko.

Mansehra townspeople

People walking in the streets of Mansehra

Me, cooooold!!

It was so cold at night that my toes were going to fall off, I guess one should expect that while camping in the mountains of Pakistan

17th March 2006

Len
non-member comment

Hi
Cin, Got your email and by the way Amy got the job as a summer student and sends you a big hug. Len

17th March 2006

Pete
non-member comment

OMG - I can feel the dirt on you!!!
Mind you my sense of camping is with a portable generator and a full bathroom. What a way to spend a lifetime together...with experiences like these your lives together will be full of memories the rest of us can only dream of! Be safe and come back soon! Pete p.s. remember the time difference between Islamabad and Vancouver is 13 hours! Thanks for the wakeup call this morning!

18th March 2006

Dad
non-member comment

another great blog
Thx for your comments Cin...Fantastic..amazing Camp Chitty chitty bang bang Loys of Love Dad

18th March 2006

Mom
non-member comment

You guys - I miss you both
You look so cold but what an adventure. I can see the kids really loved you. I just love the pictures - especially with your filter. The stories made me cry and even want to go out and help. HERE I COME ...with prayers and loving hugs your way. See you soon...can't wait.

18th March 2006

cal
non-member comment

all I can say is wow. Bless you guys.

18th March 2006

Wanda
non-member comment

Exceptional!
I'm almost speechless! You are both exceptional people doing an exceptional job which obviously needs 100s more like you....thank you, thank you, thank you so very much!!

20th March 2006

barb
non-member comment

jusst speechless
wish we could all be there to help,my girls are quite amazed at what we have showed them.be safe and we will see you soon....

2nd July 2006

Kathy
non-member comment

Quite a Twosome!
Just read your short article in today's Province and was very touched that you two spent time helping the refugees. What an experience of a lifetime and at such a young age for you to experience it. Way to go, and as a parent of kids your age, I know you must have been raised in a loving and giving family! Keep up the good work!

16th October 2006

shamina
non-member comment

I am so happy to see somebody from outdside of pakistan enjoying themselves, in this not so touristy country. I went to pakistan from the uk this year (06) and saw all the devastation I was very shocked, I have family out there and was very worried for them but when I saw our area in Kashmir it was not so bad. I took my children with me and all they wanted to do was help. I am very lucky that they adapted I had already explained to them that there had been an earthquake and it was not the same as they remembered it when they visited it when they were younger, but they seemed to adapt, going back to your photos they were very beautiful. I llike to take photos myself but find it very hard with my young familey with me all the time plus I have to do all the relative vsiting which love but is time consuming as they are far and wide spread.

12th December 2006

Cin and Galib
Cinnamon and Galib

December 3rd 2006 SURPRISE "ruksana aka MOM"
Hi Cin, How are you, Rubina andother volunteer from the camp told me she saw this website.|I am absolutely thrilled that I am able to make contact with you after 9 months. I lost my diary woith everyones tel nbrs and e mail addresses.Hope you and Ghalib are well, I would love to hear from you guys... Love MOM Re: Camp Chitta Batta, United Pakistan Relief Work

12th December 2006

Cin and Galib
Cinnamon and Galib

December 12th 2006 thnks "nasir s"
i have visit the page of chitta batta i mean white stone . which is place and my village . i m really thanks that there is huminty in this world i not see u but i get u people are perfect humin u people really love with huminty . i can not give u any thing but my prayer and my love is for u foever ur loving one nasir s from chitta batta ... Re: Village of White Stone: Camp Chitta Batta, United Pakistan Relief Work

27th May 2008

Usman Rafique
non-member comment

A Great Effort
Hi Cin and Gb, I am very glad and realy surprised about all you have done right here on this website..this is amazing..awsom..you guys has done a fantastic job on the camp and have mine and my team hertiest wishes and appreciation for your volunteer work.keep up the good work. GOD BLESS both of you...Usman Rafique

19th October 2011

muhammad ashraf khan swati
non-member comment

my several visits to (chitta batta) white stone (Feldspar) CAMP UPRW
Chitta Batta is my native village.during earthquick I visited several relief camps in dist Mansehra. UPRW provided best services.

28th January 2012

attiq
non-member comment

hello
hi, i m attiq and i m from chitta batta . today i say ur picture and really again thought about 8 oct 2005 very bad day for our mansehra.

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