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Charity aims for new village

From the archive, first published Thursday 4th Jan 2007.

Thousands of people are still living in tent villages in parts of Kashmir devastated by an earthquake in 2005 - but thanks to one Bradford charity, more than 50 families can look forward to a better life this year.

The Human Relief Foundation, based in Claremont, Great Horton, has been working for people whose lives were devastated by the earthquake which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

For more than a year the charity has been raising funds to provide relief for those who lost loved ones, businesses and their homes. Now it is turning its attentions to a rebuilding programme for 60 families.

Project manager Yousaf Razaq said the immediate priority after the earthquake hit was to provide food, clothing, shelter and medical treatment, and now nearly 14 months after tragedy struck families were looking forward to getting on with their lives.

"Time has passed but we have not forgotten the commitment we made to the people living there.

"We initially had enough money to build 40 homes, but thanks to the generosity of Bradford residents and the fundraising efforts of schoolchildren across the district we can now start building 60 homes for 60 families in the new year," said Yousaf.

With the help of local volunteers and tradesmen, Yousaf estimates the building process should take around six weeks so families will be ready to move in by February.

The homes are a specially adapted earthquake proof design utilising an original Japanese design.

To help see the families through the new year, the charity has already handed out food as part of Eid celebrations to 1,000 of the poorest families, including widows and those injured by the earthquake. Sweets and stationary were also handed out to 1,000 orphans and students.

"I am hoping that when I return to Kashmir in March I will see families settled in their new homes and getting on with their lives," added Yousaf.

"And I'm hoping that by March we may also have enough money to build another 40 homes, so we'll have built a brand new village of 100 new earthquake proof homes."

To donate to the Human Relief Foundation, or to find out more about its work in Kashmir, telephone (01274) 392727 or go to www.hrf.co.uk.

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk