574 families provided relief goods, says Focus
Posted on August 2, 2015 by zak
Report Sultan Mehmood
CHITRAL, Aug 2: Volunteers from FOCUS Search and Rescue Team (SART), Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) continue relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Chitral.
According to latest figures, the floods have totally damaged 1037 houses – 575 totally and partially 462 partially – in various parts of the valley till August 1, 2015. Focus Humanitarian Assistance Chitral is making hectic efforts to reach out to the affected population in various parts of Chitral. The organization has so far provided 228 tents, food packets to 574 families for two weeks, 186 blankets and kitchen utensils to 43 families.
The FOCUS humanitarian has stockpiles in villages in different parts of the district which proved to be a blessing for the affected people as the tents were immediately available when the flood struck and displaced them.
The RPM FOCUS, Amir Muhammad, told this correspondence that 110 tents were present in their stockpiles in different valleys and 228 were transported to different parts of the flood stricken areas. Food items, medicines, utensils and other commodities of daily-use were also delivered to the flood affected people by air lifting and using other possible means, he added. The relief operations are still continuing and FOCUS volunteers are present in all the affected valleys and helping people.
The AKF helicopter is in the disposal of FOCUS and carried out 22 sorties till August 2 carrying relief goods to the inaccessible valleys of the district sine July 27. The helicopter is stand by in Chitral and inclement weather is sometimes hampering relief operations.
http://www.chitraltoday.net/574-familie ... ays-focus/
FOCUS Humanitarian Activities
FOCUS Pakistan responds to the devastating earthquake providing relief to thousands in the affected area
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) Pakistan immediately deployed its response team to the Northern Areas in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan.
The powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Jurm District of Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan on the 26th of October, which affected large parts of Northern Pakistan and Tajikistan. Many populations in the region of the Hindu Kush mountain range have suffered the consequences of this calamity. In addition to the lives lost in the disaster, hundreds of people have been injured and thousands of houses have been destroyed or damaged.
Nusrat Nasab, Executive Officer, FOCUS Pakistan, after assessing the affected areas first-hand describes the situation as dire. “People are suffering and are very anxious in anticipation of the extreme weather conditions. Cold weather and accessibility are the foremost challenges. A collective effort is required and we are working closely with the authorities, United Nations, international non-governmental organisations and institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to provide emergency assistance and supplies to reach communities in inaccessible areas.”
Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) have been activated in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad to support the local FOCUS-trained Community Emergency Response Teams in providing assistance to the affected people. The AKDN helicopter is being utilised for evacuation and relief efforts, including airlifting the severely injured, dispatching medical teams and medicine in Chitral.
FOCUS teams are surveying the affected areas in Northern Pakistan and compiling detailed assessment reports to identify immediate humanitarian needs. In addition, FOCUS is working in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority to provide regular alerts to communities.
Presently, the immediate priorities and needs of the affected populations identified include the provision of winterised tents, blankets, medicines and food packages, which are part of FOCUS’ response plan.
http://www.dardistantimes.com/world/new ... -thousands
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) Pakistan immediately deployed its response team to the Northern Areas in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan.
The powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Jurm District of Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan on the 26th of October, which affected large parts of Northern Pakistan and Tajikistan. Many populations in the region of the Hindu Kush mountain range have suffered the consequences of this calamity. In addition to the lives lost in the disaster, hundreds of people have been injured and thousands of houses have been destroyed or damaged.
Nusrat Nasab, Executive Officer, FOCUS Pakistan, after assessing the affected areas first-hand describes the situation as dire. “People are suffering and are very anxious in anticipation of the extreme weather conditions. Cold weather and accessibility are the foremost challenges. A collective effort is required and we are working closely with the authorities, United Nations, international non-governmental organisations and institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to provide emergency assistance and supplies to reach communities in inaccessible areas.”
Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) have been activated in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad to support the local FOCUS-trained Community Emergency Response Teams in providing assistance to the affected people. The AKDN helicopter is being utilised for evacuation and relief efforts, including airlifting the severely injured, dispatching medical teams and medicine in Chitral.
FOCUS teams are surveying the affected areas in Northern Pakistan and compiling detailed assessment reports to identify immediate humanitarian needs. In addition, FOCUS is working in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority to provide regular alerts to communities.
Presently, the immediate priorities and needs of the affected populations identified include the provision of winterised tents, blankets, medicines and food packages, which are part of FOCUS’ response plan.
http://www.dardistantimes.com/world/new ... -thousands
FOCUS, AKDN and Jamati institutions respond to devastating earthquake in Central Asia
TheIsmaili.org
2 November 2015
2 November 2015 — The powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Jurm District of Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan on 26 October has affected large parts of Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and Tajikistan. Many populations in the region of the Hindu Kush mountain range have suffered the consequences of this calamity, including Ismaili communities.
Preliminary reports indicated that across Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and Tajikistan, hundreds of people were killed and thousands of homes were destroyed. Over 150 Jamati settlements are known to have been impacted, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals and destruction or damage to 3,000 homes of Jamati families. Of the 19 Jamatkhanas that suffered damage, three are reported to be beyond repair.
“People are suffering and are very anxious in anticipation of the extreme weather conditions,” says Nusrat Nasab, Executive Officer at Focus Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan. “Cold weather and accessibility are the foremost challenges.”
The Ismaili Councils for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, together with FOCUS and the Aga Khan Development Network have mobilised all their human and material resources to extend co-ordinated support to the affected populations throughout the region.
“A collective effort is required and we are working closely with the authorities, United Nations, international non-governmental organisations to provide emergency assistance and supplies to reach communities in inaccessible areas,” says Nasab.
Immediately following the earthquake, FOCUS response teams rushed to the affected areas to support local Community Emergency Response Teams in providing assistance to the affected people. AKDN helicopters are flying constant missions to assist with evacuation and relief efforts, including airlifting the severely injured, dispatching medical teams and medicine.
In Pakistan, Emergency Operation Centres in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad have been activated. FOCUS teams are surveying the affected areas and compiling detailed assessment reports to identify immediate humanitarian needs. In addition, the agency is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority to provide regular alerts to communities.
“In Afghanistan, assessment and relief operations have been hampered due to difficulties accessing several areas,” says Zaheer Hirani, interim Executive Officer at FOCUS Afghanistan. “Nonetheless, FOCUS is trying to reach those affected and is distributing non-food items including tents, blankets and warm clothing in preparation for harsh winter conditions.”
http://www.theismaili.org/news-events/f ... ntral-asia
TheIsmaili.org
2 November 2015
2 November 2015 — The powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Jurm District of Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan on 26 October has affected large parts of Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and Tajikistan. Many populations in the region of the Hindu Kush mountain range have suffered the consequences of this calamity, including Ismaili communities.
Preliminary reports indicated that across Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and Tajikistan, hundreds of people were killed and thousands of homes were destroyed. Over 150 Jamati settlements are known to have been impacted, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals and destruction or damage to 3,000 homes of Jamati families. Of the 19 Jamatkhanas that suffered damage, three are reported to be beyond repair.
“People are suffering and are very anxious in anticipation of the extreme weather conditions,” says Nusrat Nasab, Executive Officer at Focus Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan. “Cold weather and accessibility are the foremost challenges.”
The Ismaili Councils for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, together with FOCUS and the Aga Khan Development Network have mobilised all their human and material resources to extend co-ordinated support to the affected populations throughout the region.
“A collective effort is required and we are working closely with the authorities, United Nations, international non-governmental organisations to provide emergency assistance and supplies to reach communities in inaccessible areas,” says Nasab.
Immediately following the earthquake, FOCUS response teams rushed to the affected areas to support local Community Emergency Response Teams in providing assistance to the affected people. AKDN helicopters are flying constant missions to assist with evacuation and relief efforts, including airlifting the severely injured, dispatching medical teams and medicine.
In Pakistan, Emergency Operation Centres in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad have been activated. FOCUS teams are surveying the affected areas and compiling detailed assessment reports to identify immediate humanitarian needs. In addition, the agency is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority to provide regular alerts to communities.
“In Afghanistan, assessment and relief operations have been hampered due to difficulties accessing several areas,” says Zaheer Hirani, interim Executive Officer at FOCUS Afghanistan. “Nonetheless, FOCUS is trying to reach those affected and is distributing non-food items including tents, blankets and warm clothing in preparation for harsh winter conditions.”
http://www.theismaili.org/news-events/f ... ntral-asia
FOCUS works to reach affectees in remote areas
GILGIT: For people who were affected by the recent earthquake in the north of the country, cold weather and accessibility are the foremost challenges, said experts on Sunday.
“People are suffering and are very anxious about the likelihood of extreme weather conditions,” FOCUS Pakistan Executive Officer Nusrat Nasab was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Sunday. “Collective effort is required to provide emergency assistance and to make sure supplies reach communities in inaccessible areas.” Nasab added they are working closely with the authorities, United Nations, international NGOs and institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to provide emergency assistance
and supplies.
Of necessity
Not only are goods being supplied but emergency operation centres have also been set up in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad by AKDN to support the local teams trained by FOCUS. “The AKDN helicopter is being used for evacuation and relief efforts, including airlifting the injured, dispatching medical teams and medicine in Chitral.”
Moreover, according to the handout, teams were surveying affected areas in the north to compile detailed assessment reports to identify immediate needs of the stranded and affected population.
Presently, the immediate priorities and needs of the affected people that have been identified include provision of cold-proof tents, blankets, medicines and food packages. All of these are part of FOCUS’ response plan.
The endeavours made by FOCUS were lauded on Saturday by G-B Disaster Management Authority Director General Asim Raza at a press briefing. “The NGO has supplied relief goods in disaster prone valleys, including Ghizer.” According to the G-B DMA, at least 14 people were killed and 92 others were injured in quake-related incidents across the area.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/983398/focu ... ote-areas/
GILGIT: For people who were affected by the recent earthquake in the north of the country, cold weather and accessibility are the foremost challenges, said experts on Sunday.
“People are suffering and are very anxious about the likelihood of extreme weather conditions,” FOCUS Pakistan Executive Officer Nusrat Nasab was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Sunday. “Collective effort is required to provide emergency assistance and to make sure supplies reach communities in inaccessible areas.” Nasab added they are working closely with the authorities, United Nations, international NGOs and institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to provide emergency assistance
and supplies.
Of necessity
Not only are goods being supplied but emergency operation centres have also been set up in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad by AKDN to support the local teams trained by FOCUS. “The AKDN helicopter is being used for evacuation and relief efforts, including airlifting the injured, dispatching medical teams and medicine in Chitral.”
Moreover, according to the handout, teams were surveying affected areas in the north to compile detailed assessment reports to identify immediate needs of the stranded and affected population.
Presently, the immediate priorities and needs of the affected people that have been identified include provision of cold-proof tents, blankets, medicines and food packages. All of these are part of FOCUS’ response plan.
The endeavours made by FOCUS were lauded on Saturday by G-B Disaster Management Authority Director General Asim Raza at a press briefing. “The NGO has supplied relief goods in disaster prone valleys, including Ghizer.” According to the G-B DMA, at least 14 people were killed and 92 others were injured in quake-related incidents across the area.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/983398/focu ... ote-areas/
FOCUS Pakistan organized a seminar on Climate Change Adaptation in Islamabad
Islamabad, Dec 03, 2015: Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) Pakistan, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), organized a seminar on Climate Change Adaptation in Islamabad Serena Hotel on Dec 03, 2015. Climate Change experts, representative of ministry of climate change, researchers, scholars, media and community representatives shared their papers and experiences on impacts of climate change Adaptation. Experts agreed to have practical implementation of climate change policy where emphasis on ensuring actions to minimize the occurrence of climate-led disasters, training and facilitating communities in DRR and emergency response, and also to diversify and improve income levels of vulnerable groups so that they can absorb the climate shocks or any other disaster.
More...
http://www.dardistantimes.com/press-rel ... ar-climate
Islamabad, Dec 03, 2015: Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) Pakistan, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), organized a seminar on Climate Change Adaptation in Islamabad Serena Hotel on Dec 03, 2015. Climate Change experts, representative of ministry of climate change, researchers, scholars, media and community representatives shared their papers and experiences on impacts of climate change Adaptation. Experts agreed to have practical implementation of climate change policy where emphasis on ensuring actions to minimize the occurrence of climate-led disasters, training and facilitating communities in DRR and emergency response, and also to diversify and improve income levels of vulnerable groups so that they can absorb the climate shocks or any other disaster.
More...
http://www.dardistantimes.com/press-rel ... ar-climate
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an International crisis response and disaster risk management agency. We provide emergency relief to communities suffering from natural disasters or man-made crises. FOCUS implements disaster risk reduction programmes in areas vulnerable to natural hazards and engages in resettlement and reintegration programmes for populations displaced by civil instability or conflict.
FOCUS was founded in 1994 by the Ismaili Community under the guidance of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan.
Website: focus-canada.org
ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/focus-humanitarian-assistance-canada/
FOCUS was founded in 1994 by the Ismaili Community under the guidance of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan.
Website: focus-canada.org
ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/focus-humanitarian-assistance-canada/
Focus Humanitarian Assistance delivers emergency food assistance to isolated communities in the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan
http://www.akdn.org/press-release/focus ... ommunities
Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 June 2016 - Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) has delivered vital food supplies provided by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to 327 households, or 1,547 individuals in the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan, who have suffered severe food shortages during recent months.
Villagers in the districts of Big and Small Pamirs, located in Afghanistan’s remote Badakhshan province received the WFP food packages including wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses, salt and high energy biscuits - enough to feed the entire population of these districts for two months. The food was delivered to Afghanistan from Tajikistan by boat across the Panj River, under a cross border agreement between FOCUS and the Tajik Government, from where it was taken by truck along the Wakhan Corridor, as there is limited road access to the Big and Small Pamirs from the Afghan side of the border.
The high mountain communities residing in Big and Small Pamirs are predominantly Kyrgyz pastoralists, who maintain a nomadic lifestyle, and rely on their livestock for sustenance. Food security is an ongoing problem in this area, and the effects of climate change have heavily exacerbated the problem this year. Late snowfall limited the community’s access to ancestral grazing areas, and the availability of fodder for animals. This has adversely affected villagers, resulting not only in the loss of livestock and livelihoods but also heavy food shortages. The food aid delivered by FOCUS will help sustain these communities over the coming months.
FOCUS has delivered emergency relief to Afghanistan’s north-eastern province of Badakhshan after natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding, and works on disaster risk reduction across the province. FOCUS will continue engaging with this region, and other provinces across the country on assistance and development projects.
NOTES
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an international disaster management and emergency response agency providing relief and support services during natural and man-made disasters, primarily in the developing world. It is established in Europe, North America, Central and South Asia and helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid. Additionally, it facilitates community transition to sustainable, self-reliant, long-term development. FOCUS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions for people of all faiths and origins in specific regions of the developing world. For further information please visit: www.akdn.org/focus
World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media
For further information please contact: Malika Giles
Communications Officer
http://www.akdn.org/press-release/focus ... ommunities
Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 June 2016 - Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) has delivered vital food supplies provided by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to 327 households, or 1,547 individuals in the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan, who have suffered severe food shortages during recent months.
Villagers in the districts of Big and Small Pamirs, located in Afghanistan’s remote Badakhshan province received the WFP food packages including wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses, salt and high energy biscuits - enough to feed the entire population of these districts for two months. The food was delivered to Afghanistan from Tajikistan by boat across the Panj River, under a cross border agreement between FOCUS and the Tajik Government, from where it was taken by truck along the Wakhan Corridor, as there is limited road access to the Big and Small Pamirs from the Afghan side of the border.
The high mountain communities residing in Big and Small Pamirs are predominantly Kyrgyz pastoralists, who maintain a nomadic lifestyle, and rely on their livestock for sustenance. Food security is an ongoing problem in this area, and the effects of climate change have heavily exacerbated the problem this year. Late snowfall limited the community’s access to ancestral grazing areas, and the availability of fodder for animals. This has adversely affected villagers, resulting not only in the loss of livestock and livelihoods but also heavy food shortages. The food aid delivered by FOCUS will help sustain these communities over the coming months.
FOCUS has delivered emergency relief to Afghanistan’s north-eastern province of Badakhshan after natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding, and works on disaster risk reduction across the province. FOCUS will continue engaging with this region, and other provinces across the country on assistance and development projects.
NOTES
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an international disaster management and emergency response agency providing relief and support services during natural and man-made disasters, primarily in the developing world. It is established in Europe, North America, Central and South Asia and helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid. Additionally, it facilitates community transition to sustainable, self-reliant, long-term development. FOCUS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions for people of all faiths and origins in specific regions of the developing world. For further information please visit: www.akdn.org/focus
World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media
For further information please contact: Malika Giles
Communications Officer
https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/ag ... t-programs
By TOLOnews.com TODAY - 12:43 PM - Edited: TODAY - 5:57 PM
Aga Khan Foundation Launches Settlement Programs
Settlements will be built in cities and hospitals and schools will also be built.
Thumbnail
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Afghanistan, which falls under the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), on Sunday launched a settlement program in Afghanistan – which includes construction of housing that meets required standards.
Onno Ruhl, the General Manager of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Afghanistan said that the program will help promote standard dwellings for returnees and help those living in remote regions to find shelter.
“All these activities I mentioned would be highly relevant in Afghanistan at the present time - that’s why we are here today. We are here because of all of us at AKDN believe that Afghanistan is one of the most important countries in the world for AKA to deliver its mandate. We want to build on 22 years of focus, excellent work, to make remote communities in the mountains of the Hindukush not just safe but for them to thrive. We want to deepen our partnership with the government and in particularly with ANDMA for even greater impact on all Afghanistan,” said Ruhl.
Afghan officials welcome the move and pointed out that Afghanistan deals with a wide range of regular natural disasters.
“We are in the first or second position among ten countries which have a lot of natural disasters,” said state minister for natural disaster management Najib Aqa Fahim.
“Restoring degraded land means better lives and incomes for farmers and pastoralists and less pressure on people to migrate to cities. We see this ethic of partnership,” said Noor Jahan Mawani, the ambassador of Karim Aga Khan to Afghanistan.
“We can see some very alarming numbers that are coming from various reports, based on the World Bank and the The Global Facility for Disaster reduction and recovery report which was produced in 2017; we can see that in Afghanistan annually we have 560 people on average who lose their lives due to earthquakes; floods are threatening their lives and poverty is also impacting 800,000 people.
“Based on the report, 10,000 kilometers of roads in Afghanistan is under threat of avalanches which happen every year; the effect of drought is very significant. Based on a report, $280 million in agricultural losses are sustained annually and if you go to rural areas, the impact is indeed very challenging,” said Shadman Hajibekov, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation for Settlement.
In Afghanistan, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) − previously Focus Humanitarian Assistance − engages with communities living in remote mountainous areas to increase their resilience to natural disasters and complex emergencies. The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat also supports communities to utilize an enabling habitat to enhance their health, education and economic development.
The approach is to predict where possible potential emergencies may impact homes and livelihoods, identify structural and non-structural interventions that can prevent or mitigate the impact of those hazards, and to build the capacities of communities and local and national governments to reduce their vulnerability to risk and to increase their capacities to help their neighbors.
To enable this, AKAH implements a wide range of disaster prevention and response initiatives in local communities, including disaster preparedness trainings, vulnerability assessments, risk mitigation activities and disaster relief efforts.
By TOLOnews.com TODAY - 12:43 PM - Edited: TODAY - 5:57 PM
Aga Khan Foundation Launches Settlement Programs
Settlements will be built in cities and hospitals and schools will also be built.
Thumbnail
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Afghanistan, which falls under the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), on Sunday launched a settlement program in Afghanistan – which includes construction of housing that meets required standards.
Onno Ruhl, the General Manager of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Afghanistan said that the program will help promote standard dwellings for returnees and help those living in remote regions to find shelter.
“All these activities I mentioned would be highly relevant in Afghanistan at the present time - that’s why we are here today. We are here because of all of us at AKDN believe that Afghanistan is one of the most important countries in the world for AKA to deliver its mandate. We want to build on 22 years of focus, excellent work, to make remote communities in the mountains of the Hindukush not just safe but for them to thrive. We want to deepen our partnership with the government and in particularly with ANDMA for even greater impact on all Afghanistan,” said Ruhl.
Afghan officials welcome the move and pointed out that Afghanistan deals with a wide range of regular natural disasters.
“We are in the first or second position among ten countries which have a lot of natural disasters,” said state minister for natural disaster management Najib Aqa Fahim.
“Restoring degraded land means better lives and incomes for farmers and pastoralists and less pressure on people to migrate to cities. We see this ethic of partnership,” said Noor Jahan Mawani, the ambassador of Karim Aga Khan to Afghanistan.
“We can see some very alarming numbers that are coming from various reports, based on the World Bank and the The Global Facility for Disaster reduction and recovery report which was produced in 2017; we can see that in Afghanistan annually we have 560 people on average who lose their lives due to earthquakes; floods are threatening their lives and poverty is also impacting 800,000 people.
“Based on the report, 10,000 kilometers of roads in Afghanistan is under threat of avalanches which happen every year; the effect of drought is very significant. Based on a report, $280 million in agricultural losses are sustained annually and if you go to rural areas, the impact is indeed very challenging,” said Shadman Hajibekov, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation for Settlement.
In Afghanistan, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) − previously Focus Humanitarian Assistance − engages with communities living in remote mountainous areas to increase their resilience to natural disasters and complex emergencies. The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat also supports communities to utilize an enabling habitat to enhance their health, education and economic development.
The approach is to predict where possible potential emergencies may impact homes and livelihoods, identify structural and non-structural interventions that can prevent or mitigate the impact of those hazards, and to build the capacities of communities and local and national governments to reduce their vulnerability to risk and to increase their capacities to help their neighbors.
To enable this, AKAH implements a wide range of disaster prevention and response initiatives in local communities, including disaster preparedness trainings, vulnerability assessments, risk mitigation activities and disaster relief efforts.
Preparing a Family Emergency Kit in Plain English video
It's your responsibility to start gathering supplies and start thinking about what your family will need for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
Video: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs ... t-eng.aspx
It's your responsibility to start gathering supplies and start thinking about what your family will need for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
Video: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs ... t-eng.aspx
FOCUS USA: Family Stories on Preparing for Natural Disasters
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SURzU34wrgY
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SURzU34wrgY
FOCUS USA: Never thought this could happen to us
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6ojVOJSAM
******
FOCUS USA: Family stories on preparing for natural disasters
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ielhVNdo1Ng
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6ojVOJSAM
******
FOCUS USA: Family stories on preparing for natural disasters
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ielhVNdo1Ng
Google Translation of the Original Article in Portuguese
Ismaili Community and Focus Foundation jointly donate protective material against COVID 19.
The Ismaili Community and the Focus Humanitarian Assistance Europe Foundation, an affiliated institution of the Aga Khan Network for Development, offered personal protection material and combating the COVID 19 pandemic to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
The material, for a total value of 45 thousand euros, includes 25 thousand surgical masks and 10 thousand visors, which will be distributed to institutions in the North of the country.
This donation was handed over to the Porto Emergency Operations Command, which belongs to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, which will be responsible for its management and distribution, namely, for the Support and Rear Structures created as a social response for users infected with Covid-19 with discharge clinic, where they can do the isolation when they have no conditions in their homes or ERPI's, Lr. The delivery ceremony was made by the President of the Ismaili Community, Rahim Firozali to Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Alves, in the presence of the Honorable Secretary of State for Mobility, as coordinator for the Northern Region, Dr. Eduardo Pinheiro, and the Diplomatic Representative of the Imamat Ismaili, Commander Nazim Ahmad.
The Ismaili Community and the Focus Foundation intend, once again, to contribute to the national fight against the pandemic COVID 19, namely by sending protective material to one of the regions of the country most affected by the problem.
Last June, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) made donations of protective material and hospital equipment that were later distributed to Portuguese and PALOP institutions.
https://the.ismaili/portugal/comunidade ... A3o-contra
Ismaili Community and Focus Foundation jointly donate protective material against COVID 19.
The Ismaili Community and the Focus Humanitarian Assistance Europe Foundation, an affiliated institution of the Aga Khan Network for Development, offered personal protection material and combating the COVID 19 pandemic to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
The material, for a total value of 45 thousand euros, includes 25 thousand surgical masks and 10 thousand visors, which will be distributed to institutions in the North of the country.
This donation was handed over to the Porto Emergency Operations Command, which belongs to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, which will be responsible for its management and distribution, namely, for the Support and Rear Structures created as a social response for users infected with Covid-19 with discharge clinic, where they can do the isolation when they have no conditions in their homes or ERPI's, Lr. The delivery ceremony was made by the President of the Ismaili Community, Rahim Firozali to Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Alves, in the presence of the Honorable Secretary of State for Mobility, as coordinator for the Northern Region, Dr. Eduardo Pinheiro, and the Diplomatic Representative of the Imamat Ismaili, Commander Nazim Ahmad.
The Ismaili Community and the Focus Foundation intend, once again, to contribute to the national fight against the pandemic COVID 19, namely by sending protective material to one of the regions of the country most affected by the problem.
Last June, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) made donations of protective material and hospital equipment that were later distributed to Portuguese and PALOP institutions.
https://the.ismaili/portugal/comunidade ... A3o-contra
VIDEO: FOCUS USA: Central USA - Family Preparedness and Beyond Webinar - January 24, 2021
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16YzyHzc6-8
On Sunday, January 24, 2021, Central Region's VRM and Disaster Management Team with FOCUS USA gave a presentation on the importance of family emergency preparedness within the Central Region Jamat due to the risk of natural hazards all around us including flooding, tornados, winter storms, and power outages.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16YzyHzc6-8
On Sunday, January 24, 2021, Central Region's VRM and Disaster Management Team with FOCUS USA gave a presentation on the importance of family emergency preparedness within the Central Region Jamat due to the risk of natural hazards all around us including flooding, tornados, winter storms, and power outages.
FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for Hurricane, Flood, and Basic Emergency Preparedness
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fiiu5QWr8E
WATCH NOW: You need more than a Family Emergency Kit to prepare for a hurricane:
- Create a Family Emergency Plan
- Know what to do and how to evacuate
- Sign up for alerts and warnings
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fiiu5QWr8E
WATCH NOW: You need more than a Family Emergency Kit to prepare for a hurricane:
- Create a Family Emergency Plan
- Know what to do and how to evacuate
- Sign up for alerts and warnings
FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for an Earthquake
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZiudFNbJIQ
******
FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for an Earthquake and Basic Emergency Preparedness
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyoxn_41qys
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZiudFNbJIQ
******
FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for an Earthquake and Basic Emergency Preparedness
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyoxn_41qys
FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for a Wildfire
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0TaU7-8h8k
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FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for a Wildfire and Basic Emergency Preparedness
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8B7bErSG48
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0TaU7-8h8k
******
FOCUS USA: How to Prepare for a Wildfire and Basic Emergency Preparedness
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8B7bErSG48
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/funda%C3%A ... %C3%AAncia
FOCUS Foundation: Saving Lives, Reducing Suffering and Building Resilience
This year FOCUS Europe celebrates its 25th anniversary. Its journey of more than two decades has brought it many trials, with the pandemic bringing an additional challenge in terms of supporting the most vulnerable communities all over the world. But the crises were followed by many success stories, of communities that were able to overcome difficulties, prosper and build a more optimistic and sustainable future for themselves and for generations to come.
The FOCUS Foundation's success is due to the continued generosity of its donors, whose support allows its teams and volunteers to carry out their programs and carry out work that has transformed lives.
The celebration of the 25th anniversary of FOCUS took place in April, through the organization of an online photo exhibition, with iconic images of FOCUS, and the dissemination of a video in which some of the work being carried out to support populations in Syria, in the context of the pandemic, to alleviate the effects of climate change in Pakistan and to promote the successful integration of migrants in Europe.
Please remember that you can now donate to FOCUS Europe through AmazonSmile, at no cost to you. You make your purchases and Amazon will make a donation. Find out more details here .
Discover our most impactful recent projects here https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-nossos- ... or-impacto .
The FOCUS Foundation thanks you for your support!
*******
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/apoie-focu ... amazon-doa
Support FOCUS Europe through AmazonSmile - You buy, Amazon donates
Supporting FOCUS' work is now easier! Always shop on Amazon, go to AmazonSmile, select "Focus Humanitarian Assistance Europe" and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to FOCUS Europe. For frequent Amazon shoppers, this is a great way to support our projects!
If you don't find AmazonSmile in your settings, go to smile.amazon.co.uk. You will be asked to log into your Amazon account and then choose an institution to which you want to donate.
There is no cost to FOCUS or customers - AmazonSmile offers the same items, prices and benefits as amazon.co.uk and 100% of the donation generated from eligible purchases will go to FOCUS Europe.
For those using the Amazon application, it is necessary to activate AmazonSmile in the application settings. If you don't find AmazonSmile in the settings, after you have selected FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe on the internet via smile.amazon.co.uk, exit the application and re-enter. Activate AmazonSmile and you will then see an option in your settings.
Since here it is...
To help FOCUS Europe in its efforts to save lives, reduce suffering and build resilience, we are immensely grateful for any contribution you can make to support these extraordinary projects. Thank you!
donate now https://www.focus-europe.org/en/donate/
******
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese: https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-nossos- ... or-impacto
Our most impactful recent projects
This year, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe marks its 25th anniversary. Whether responding to natural disasters in the world's most isolated mountain regions, providing emergency support to populations affected by civil war, or reaching out to migrants so they can build a safer future for themselves and their families , whether improving drinking water and sanitation infrastructure or training communities to be better prepared to face the risks of climate change, FOCUS has been, for the past 25 years, at the forefront of the response to disasters as well as mitigation planning.
Ecosystem Restoration highlighted on World Environment Day
This year Pakistan was the host of World Environment Day, which was marked on 5 June. The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), together with Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change, the World Habitat Prize and the United Nations Habitat Program co-organized an international seminar on Ecosystem Restoration for Quality of life.
The event was attended by heads of the various entities involved in this event, namely the CEO of AKAH Pakistan, Nawab Ali Khan, who stressed: “The experience accumulated over decades tells us that only by working together can we overcome environmental challenges we face both in Pakistan and globally. We are proud to partner with the Pakistani government in the ambitious effort to plant 50 million trees in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, build sustainable water and sanitation systems, and develop sustainable building guidelines across the country."
Focus 1
Women challenge gender bias
Women play a particularly active role in the Aga Khan Habitat Agency (AKAH) work in isolated areas of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Syria and Tajikistan to make communities safer, more sustainable, more resilient and more equitable.
They challenge the gender bias that persists in many communities and take on the leadership of emergency response teams, conduct search and rescue missions, plan and supervise more ecologically sustainable construction projects, collect and analyze geological and meteorological data among many other activities. .
Dilshodbegim Khisravova, an AKAH volunteer since 2013, is an example of the involvement of women in command of operations. At just 21 years of age, he has been leading since 2020 the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Khorog, Tajikistan, which is made up of 25 men and only 5 women. “I felt proud to have been chosen. In a modest way, I am challenging the norms of gender and inequality that still exist in society”, commented Dilshodbegim, adding: “As a woman, I sometimes have difficulties to become the person I want to be, but the challenges must motivate us to try harder to achieve what we want. That's what I intend to do”.
Focus 2
FOCUS prepares operations to support migrants in Greece
FOCUS maintains its involvement in social assistance and individual financial support to migrants arriving in Europe mainly from Syria and Afghanistan and has been adding successes, achieving successful integrations. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays in processing claims, especially in France and Belgium, and FOCUS has provided important support to migrants as they wait for their status to be regularized.
Greece, which has temporarily taken in refugees, is the country where FOCUS is now starting operations, strengthening ties with the Athens government as well as NGOs already on the ground in order to identify accessible resources and support families. In this sense, it has promoted language learning, access to educational opportunities, access to early childhood development programs, health care, legal services and employment. As FOCUS operations advance in Greece, efforts are being made to develop a more constant presence in the country, with the opening of an office and its own team.
Focus 3
AKAH and FOCUS Emergency Response Teams save lives
This year there have been a series of natural disasters in the most remote mountain regions of Asia. Last February, an avalanche in Zingerya, a remote village in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, buried one person. Volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) from AKAH and FOCUS immediately came to the scene and managed to rescue her alive.
In March, heavy rains in Khorog, Dehmiyona and Sipinc, Tajikistan, caused landslides and rockfall. With the help of local authorities, volunteers from the AKAH and FOCUS Community Emergency Response Team evacuated 60 families to safety.
In April, an AKAH and FOCUS Community Emergency Response Team managed to rescue Nazanin Motiee, a young Iranian woman who had been lost hiking in the Passu Glacier in northern Pakistan.
AKAH, supported by FOCUS, trained and trained 702 Community Emergency Response Teams and 187 avalanche rescue teams in Afghanistan, for a total of over 19,000 volunteers.
Focus 4
Congratulations to Sadiq Kassamo, who ran an ULTRAMARATONE for FOCUS!
In an admirable initiative, Sadiq Kassamo, 47 years old, completed, on June 27th, the “YELLOW SIERRA SKY ULTRAMARATHON” in the Peneda-Gerês National Park to raise funds for FOCUS. Despite the heat, Sadiq managed to run 48 km in mountainous terrain!
FOCUS Europe thanks Sadiq for its fantastic initiative and generous fundraising on behalf of the institution and congratulates it on its success in the race.
If you want to support Sadiq in his extraordinary initiative, please make a donation here .
Focus 5
If Sadiq's achievement inspired you and you would like to organize your own fundraising event, please contact us at [email protected](link sends email)
We are ready to support you in whatever way we can
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/apoie-focu ... amazon-doa
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-nossos- ... or-impacto
https://the.ismaili/portugal/funda%C3%A ... %C3%AAncia
FOCUS Foundation: Saving Lives, Reducing Suffering and Building Resilience
This year FOCUS Europe celebrates its 25th anniversary. Its journey of more than two decades has brought it many trials, with the pandemic bringing an additional challenge in terms of supporting the most vulnerable communities all over the world. But the crises were followed by many success stories, of communities that were able to overcome difficulties, prosper and build a more optimistic and sustainable future for themselves and for generations to come.
The FOCUS Foundation's success is due to the continued generosity of its donors, whose support allows its teams and volunteers to carry out their programs and carry out work that has transformed lives.
The celebration of the 25th anniversary of FOCUS took place in April, through the organization of an online photo exhibition, with iconic images of FOCUS, and the dissemination of a video in which some of the work being carried out to support populations in Syria, in the context of the pandemic, to alleviate the effects of climate change in Pakistan and to promote the successful integration of migrants in Europe.
Please remember that you can now donate to FOCUS Europe through AmazonSmile, at no cost to you. You make your purchases and Amazon will make a donation. Find out more details here .
Discover our most impactful recent projects here https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-nossos- ... or-impacto .
The FOCUS Foundation thanks you for your support!
*******
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/apoie-focu ... amazon-doa
Support FOCUS Europe through AmazonSmile - You buy, Amazon donates
Supporting FOCUS' work is now easier! Always shop on Amazon, go to AmazonSmile, select "Focus Humanitarian Assistance Europe" and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to FOCUS Europe. For frequent Amazon shoppers, this is a great way to support our projects!
If you don't find AmazonSmile in your settings, go to smile.amazon.co.uk. You will be asked to log into your Amazon account and then choose an institution to which you want to donate.
There is no cost to FOCUS or customers - AmazonSmile offers the same items, prices and benefits as amazon.co.uk and 100% of the donation generated from eligible purchases will go to FOCUS Europe.
For those using the Amazon application, it is necessary to activate AmazonSmile in the application settings. If you don't find AmazonSmile in the settings, after you have selected FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe on the internet via smile.amazon.co.uk, exit the application and re-enter. Activate AmazonSmile and you will then see an option in your settings.
Since here it is...
To help FOCUS Europe in its efforts to save lives, reduce suffering and build resilience, we are immensely grateful for any contribution you can make to support these extraordinary projects. Thank you!
donate now https://www.focus-europe.org/en/donate/
******
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese: https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-nossos- ... or-impacto
Our most impactful recent projects
This year, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Europe marks its 25th anniversary. Whether responding to natural disasters in the world's most isolated mountain regions, providing emergency support to populations affected by civil war, or reaching out to migrants so they can build a safer future for themselves and their families , whether improving drinking water and sanitation infrastructure or training communities to be better prepared to face the risks of climate change, FOCUS has been, for the past 25 years, at the forefront of the response to disasters as well as mitigation planning.
Ecosystem Restoration highlighted on World Environment Day
This year Pakistan was the host of World Environment Day, which was marked on 5 June. The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), together with Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change, the World Habitat Prize and the United Nations Habitat Program co-organized an international seminar on Ecosystem Restoration for Quality of life.
The event was attended by heads of the various entities involved in this event, namely the CEO of AKAH Pakistan, Nawab Ali Khan, who stressed: “The experience accumulated over decades tells us that only by working together can we overcome environmental challenges we face both in Pakistan and globally. We are proud to partner with the Pakistani government in the ambitious effort to plant 50 million trees in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, build sustainable water and sanitation systems, and develop sustainable building guidelines across the country."
Focus 1
Women challenge gender bias
Women play a particularly active role in the Aga Khan Habitat Agency (AKAH) work in isolated areas of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Syria and Tajikistan to make communities safer, more sustainable, more resilient and more equitable.
They challenge the gender bias that persists in many communities and take on the leadership of emergency response teams, conduct search and rescue missions, plan and supervise more ecologically sustainable construction projects, collect and analyze geological and meteorological data among many other activities. .
Dilshodbegim Khisravova, an AKAH volunteer since 2013, is an example of the involvement of women in command of operations. At just 21 years of age, he has been leading since 2020 the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Khorog, Tajikistan, which is made up of 25 men and only 5 women. “I felt proud to have been chosen. In a modest way, I am challenging the norms of gender and inequality that still exist in society”, commented Dilshodbegim, adding: “As a woman, I sometimes have difficulties to become the person I want to be, but the challenges must motivate us to try harder to achieve what we want. That's what I intend to do”.
Focus 2
FOCUS prepares operations to support migrants in Greece
FOCUS maintains its involvement in social assistance and individual financial support to migrants arriving in Europe mainly from Syria and Afghanistan and has been adding successes, achieving successful integrations. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays in processing claims, especially in France and Belgium, and FOCUS has provided important support to migrants as they wait for their status to be regularized.
Greece, which has temporarily taken in refugees, is the country where FOCUS is now starting operations, strengthening ties with the Athens government as well as NGOs already on the ground in order to identify accessible resources and support families. In this sense, it has promoted language learning, access to educational opportunities, access to early childhood development programs, health care, legal services and employment. As FOCUS operations advance in Greece, efforts are being made to develop a more constant presence in the country, with the opening of an office and its own team.
Focus 3
AKAH and FOCUS Emergency Response Teams save lives
This year there have been a series of natural disasters in the most remote mountain regions of Asia. Last February, an avalanche in Zingerya, a remote village in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, buried one person. Volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) from AKAH and FOCUS immediately came to the scene and managed to rescue her alive.
In March, heavy rains in Khorog, Dehmiyona and Sipinc, Tajikistan, caused landslides and rockfall. With the help of local authorities, volunteers from the AKAH and FOCUS Community Emergency Response Team evacuated 60 families to safety.
In April, an AKAH and FOCUS Community Emergency Response Team managed to rescue Nazanin Motiee, a young Iranian woman who had been lost hiking in the Passu Glacier in northern Pakistan.
AKAH, supported by FOCUS, trained and trained 702 Community Emergency Response Teams and 187 avalanche rescue teams in Afghanistan, for a total of over 19,000 volunteers.
Focus 4
Congratulations to Sadiq Kassamo, who ran an ULTRAMARATONE for FOCUS!
In an admirable initiative, Sadiq Kassamo, 47 years old, completed, on June 27th, the “YELLOW SIERRA SKY ULTRAMARATHON” in the Peneda-Gerês National Park to raise funds for FOCUS. Despite the heat, Sadiq managed to run 48 km in mountainous terrain!
FOCUS Europe thanks Sadiq for its fantastic initiative and generous fundraising on behalf of the institution and congratulates it on its success in the race.
If you want to support Sadiq in his extraordinary initiative, please make a donation here .
Focus 5
If Sadiq's achievement inspired you and you would like to organize your own fundraising event, please contact us at [email protected](link sends email)
We are ready to support you in whatever way we can
Google translation of the original article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/apoie-focu ... amazon-doa
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-nossos- ... or-impacto
SAT Aug 14 • 5pm PT | 8pm ET • Live Stream
FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Presents: Your Support Matters
Join a virtual concert with Salim and Sulaiman accompanied by Raj Pandit and Bhoomi Trivedi in support of the critical work of FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance.
Tune in to https://tv.ismaili/ on Saturday, August 14 at either 5pm PT | 6pm MT | 8pm ET or at 8pm PT | 9pm MT | 11pm ET.
This is the last week of the FOCUS Campaign. Contributions can be made at FOCUSstar.ca.
View Poster.
Daily Diamond
"The awkward truth about human deprivation, Madam Chairman, is that it demeans those who permit or ignore it, more than it does those who are deprived."
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, November 1977
Join FOCUS USA, as we celebrate YOU!
Join Salim-Sulaiman, featuring Raj Pandit and Bhoomi Trivedi for a virtual concert to “Celebrate Your Support!” to Focus on Humanitarian Assistance USA.
Tune in this Sunday, August 22 at 8:00PM EST and again at 11:00PM EST exclusively
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxstxfwjrh8
Join Salim-Sulaiman, featuring Raj Pandit and Bhoomi Trivedi for a virtual concert to “Celebrate Your Support!” to Focus on Humanitarian Assistance USA.
Tune in this Sunday, August 22 at 8:00PM EST and again at 11:00PM EST exclusively
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxstxfwjrh8
FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance has launched the official FOCUS STAR Fundraising Campaign for 2021, which will run for a period of six weeks.
The primary objective of this campaign is to raise funds for FOCUS’ wide breadth of projects that aim to improve the quality of lives of our Jamati brothers and sisters around the world and within the communities which they live.
With the continuous guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam, FOCUS worldwide aims to -
• Provide emergency relief to communities suffering from natural disasters or man-made crises in the five priority countries – Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India, and Syria.
• Support Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes to build more resilient and self-sufficient communities for the future, and
• Implement resettlement and reintegration programmes for populations displaced by civil instability and conflict.
To put this mandate into practice has been particularly challenging during the COVID-19 Pandemic and our community has been severely impacted.
“Relief, Rebuild and Resilience” is at the core of our organisation and of the 2021 FOCUS STAR fundraising campaign and now, more than ever, we need your support.
With the world still navigating through the pandemic, continued conflict around the world and the increase in natural disasters from the impact of climate change, your donations will directly impact the most vulnerable communities in our Jamat globally. More recently, the situation in Afghanistan is causing concern for the Jamat around the world and is being monitored by FOCUS personnel on the ground in partnership with AKDN institutions, and are preparing to render support where required.
With your support, FOCUS can fund and implement programmes that concentrate on proactive immediate relief, ongoing resilience and preparedness to build a better and sustainable future.
Some examples of the positive impact of FOCUS’s work include:the interventions in war and natural disaster-stricken countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Syria, where we have provided food aid, emergency relief and financial assistance to affected communities. Secondly, in our aim to build sustainability and self-reliance, FOCUS, in partnership with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, has trained over 50,000 volunteers globally in First Aid and Disaster Risk Management over the last 25 years. n addition, the European Settlement Program assists in navigating displaced Jamati members through the asylum and settlement process, so that they have the opportunity to resettle and build a secure life for themselves and their families.
The work of FOCUS is only possible through your generous donations, which. saves lives and transforms the outlook and future prospects of thousands of people across the world.
To show your support and make a donation, please visit the FOCUS desk in Jamatkhana or go to our website at Focus-europe.org where you can contribute online. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code in the image above, which will direct you to our website.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of FOCUS Europe and inshallah we hope to build on the strength and success of our previous campaigns during these troubled and challenging times.
We submit our heartfelt thank you in advance for your ongoing support.
https://the.ismaili/uk/society/focus-eu ... g-campaign
English Translation of the Original Article in Portuguese: https://the.ismaili/portugal/lisboa-rec ... ist%C3%A3o
Lisbon welcomes 125 migrants from Greece and Afghanistan
“Um Novo Beginning” is a resettlement program aimed at the successful integration into Portuguese society of the 125 migrants who arrived in Lisbon from Greece and Afghanistan.
This program is underway within the scope of a protocol signed between the High Commission for Migration (ACM) and FOCUS Europe as the host entity and the National Council of Portugal as an implementation partner.
Of the 125 migrants welcomed in the Portuguese capital, 84 came from Greece under the bilateral agreement between that country and Portugal. These 84 murids, comprising 31 families, spent more than 3 years in refugee camps in Greece, having been resettled in Lisbon in September and October.
In order to welcome these families, a meeting in Farsi and a dinner for the families were organized, which was attended by members of the Government, leaders of the Jamat and the mentors assigned to them.
These families are all enrolled in Portuguese language courses, as their knowledge of our language will allow them to integrate more quickly into Portuguese society, namely through job applications. In addition, they are receiving free support with regard to housing, access to public services, healthcare and education for their children. All families also participate in integration activities that help them feel welcome among us.
It should be noted that it was only possible to put this project into motion thanks to the strong contribution made by the Jamat volunteers. To all our heartfelt thanks!
Lisbon welcomes 125 migrants from Greece and Afghanistan
“Um Novo Beginning” is a resettlement program aimed at the successful integration into Portuguese society of the 125 migrants who arrived in Lisbon from Greece and Afghanistan.
This program is underway within the scope of a protocol signed between the High Commission for Migration (ACM) and FOCUS Europe as the host entity and the National Council of Portugal as an implementation partner.
Of the 125 migrants welcomed in the Portuguese capital, 84 came from Greece under the bilateral agreement between that country and Portugal. These 84 murids, comprising 31 families, spent more than 3 years in refugee camps in Greece, having been resettled in Lisbon in September and October.
In order to welcome these families, a meeting in Farsi and a dinner for the families were organized, which was attended by members of the Government, leaders of the Jamat and the mentors assigned to them.
These families are all enrolled in Portuguese language courses, as their knowledge of our language will allow them to integrate more quickly into Portuguese society, namely through job applications. In addition, they are receiving free support with regard to housing, access to public services, healthcare and education for their children. All families also participate in integration activities that help them feel welcome among us.
It should be noted that it was only possible to put this project into motion thanks to the strong contribution made by the Jamat volunteers. To all our heartfelt thanks!
Full Circle with FOCUS – From receiving support in Afghanistan to providing support in Europe to newly arrived migrants
Meet Rahila, one of FOCUS’s key personnel, who herself received support from FOCUS in the 1990s when her family fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan. Now she is a Case Management Coordinator for FOCUS’s European Settlement Programme and works to help settle migrants who have recently arrived in Europe. She tells us of her journey and how she has gone full circle with FOCUS.
FOCUS is a very special organisation for many Ismailis of Afghanistan. I first came across the name in the late 1990s when my family and I were forced to flee to Pakistan due to conflict in Afghanistan. I recall a minivan dropped us across the border. My father asked us to stay on a side road while he went to find the Peshawar FOCUS Office. That image of us being displaced, finding ourselves on a random street in a different country with little of our belongings and no place to go is a memory that has remained with me until today. Once my father returned and knew where we could find shelter was such a relief. FOCUS provided us with reception services and transferred us to Karachi, where we were assisted with initial accommodation and livelihood until we figured our way around ourselves.
Rahila
I spent most of my teenage years in Pakistan, receiving support from FOCUS and other Jamati institutions ranging from education to health. Most importantly, FOCUS provided a sense of stability in a state of refugeehood for us, which will always remain a special part of my childhood and growing up. I know some families who have kept their FOCUS issued ID cards until today.
After the big repatriation of refugees in 2002, we went back to Afghanistan. 2002 was a time of great hope in Afghanistan. I thought FOCUS was a refugee assistance organisation based in Pakistan. When we returned to Afghanistan, my school, which was destroyed during the war, was rehabilitated by FOCUS and then the organisation became well-known for its disaster risk reduction work. I eventually left Afghanistan for education to Canada, then to the USA and finally the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) brought me to London.
In 2012, I got an internship with FOCUS, and this is how my professional work in forced displacement started. After completing my internship, I worked with external organisations for a while and joined FOCUS again in 2017 to help with the European Settlement Programme. I am currently the Case Management Coordinator. Our mandate is to ensure families making their journey in our jurisdiction are settled safely and smoothly.
In the current environment, forced displacement is becoming more and more complex. Many generations live in displacement with no durable solutions. Forced movement of populations will always be part of global challenges. Therefore, it is becoming ever more essential that countries make “welcoming refugees” part of their social and economic infrastructure so that it is no longer a shock for both host communities and refugees. Building resilience at the time of potential disaster or conflict may have to become part of our education system so we learn to live in stability during uncertainties. Sharing is no longer optional and just a nice act of kindness, but it has become necessary for our planet’s survival. For the generations to come, we may need to learn to share better, whether that is territory, home, resources, classroom, knowledge, skill, or bread.
To read more about Rahila’s journey, click here https://www.uwc.org/impact/from-baghlan ... back-again.
To support FOCUS’s European Settlement Programme and our other projects, please make a donation herehttps://www.focus-europe.org/en/donate/
https://the.ismaili/uk/community/full-c ... rope-newly