ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: American sailors on Tuesday adopted Miani Bandi village adjacent to the Muzaffarabad airport as part of the US support to relief efforts.

The sailors, known as ‘SEABEES’, are participating in the ‘Adopt a Village’ programme started by the Pakistani military to provide sturdy shelters to earthquake survivors in the Kashmir region.

The SEABEES was deployed in Muzaffarabad on Oct 27 from Okinawa, Japan to assist in relief efforts.

Phase two of this programme encompasses building durable shelters for the winter using the materials already at the home sites.

The US sailors, Pakistani military, and the home owners will work together to reconstruct 75 houses, build a school, and sanitation facilities.

The adopt a village programme has three phases — supplying tents, building durable shelters and rebuilding of permanent homes for those affected by the earthquake.