Version imprimableLocal committees working under the guidance of Citizen Relief Committee Kashmir had done a survey of the area to identify those most in need. Priority has been given to women and the most impoverished whose houses have been totally demolished.
Some initial work on twenty-five houses has started in the village of Nakar, with the full participation of the local community. The foundations of these houses are now being laid. Several meetings of the affected people of the area have taken place to plan for the building of these houses.
The houses can accommodate a family of 8 to 10 persons. The land for these houses has been given by the local community and the LPP will bear the cost of the material and construction. The affected people will be responsible for the wood work and some manual labour. So a combination of local partnership is an integral part of the project.
This is a nearly seven million rupees ($116,000) project, with financial assistance provided by Action Aid Pakistan. The Labour Party Pakistan chairperson Nisar Shah is heading a team of volunteers to carry out this project. The houses will be ready by the end of November.
It seems that the LPP is the first political party in Pakistan to start building more reliable residences instead of camps and tents that will not be sufficient to face the hardship of the snowing winter. By building these houses LPP has moved from planning to practice.
Labour Party Pakistan is a founding member of Labour Relief Campaign and Citizens Relief Committee (CRC). The network for the relief work is growing and more and more individuals and organizations are joining CRC.
There are several other international organizations and individuals that have contributed to the Labour Relief Campaign. They have sent the financial support or indicated that they are in process of collecting funds.
They include
– Olof Palme International Center, Stockholm
– Graphic Union of Sweden
– Industrial Union of Sweden
– Socialist Party, Sweden
– LCR, France and other sections of the Fourth International
– Solidarity Without Borders, Sweden, France
– Scottish Socialist Party
– Democratic Socialist Perspective, Australia
– Tariq Ali
– Solidarity, USA
– Socialist Worker, USA
– Swedish trade union paper; Dagens Arbete
– Swedish Teacher Union Goteburg
– Food Union Sweden
– Several individuals from France, Canada, USA and Australia etc
The amount sent from these organizations is and will be used for immediate relief like food, medicine, temporary shelter and transport. So far 9 trucks have been sent to the affected areas.
From 28th October, a team of five women from Women Workers Help Line are visiting affected areas of Kashmir. They include a medical team to treat the women of the area particularly. They also carry over 300 bags for children with new warm clothes and sweaters.
Please indicate if you have sent any donation. If you have not done, please do so at the earliest. We will be sending a complete report of the entire donation received and the expenditure so far on relief work.
Please visit Labour Education Foundation website for more details of Labour Relief Campaign www.lef.org.pk
Donations can be sent to the Labour Education Foundation appeal in two ways:
To Pakistan, but which might be very costly:
LABOUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION
A/C No. 01801876
BANK ALFALAH LTD., LDA PLAZA, KASHMIR ROAD, LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Route:
Please advise and pay to Citi Bank, New York, USA Swift CITI US 33
for onward transfer to BANK ALFALAH LTD., KARACHI, PAKISTAN A/C No. 36087144
and for final transfer to BANK ALFALAH LTD., LDA PLAZA, KASHMIR ROAD, LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Swift: ALFHPKKALDA for A/C No. 01801876 OF LABOUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Or through a Paris-based NGO, the ESSF, which is centralising the transfer of funds:
THROUGH ESSF:
Bank Account:
Crédit lyonnais
Agence de la Croix-de-Chavaux (00525)
10 boulevard de Chanzy
93100 Montreuil
France
International bank account details :
IBAN : FR85 3000 2005 0044 5757 C12
BIC / SWIFT : CRLYFRPP
Account holder : ESSF
