CHITRAL, June 11: Focus Humanitarian Assistance (Focus) has engaged in additional emergency relief distributions in collaboration with local government authorities in the district of Chitral which was hit by severe avalanches in March and April last year, says a Press release.

Seventy-eight villagers lost their lives and over 30 were seriously injured in the disaster- struck areas. The avalanches blocked roads and damaged infrastructure and dozens of homes, schools and other civic buildings.

Responding to the government’s request for additional assistance to dozens of villages in the region, Focus provided essential food, kitchen and shelter items to families who lost their food reserves as well as roofing on their houses. The first distribution phase of vital supplies, including flour, rice, tea, sugar, oil, kitchen utensils and galvanised iron sheets, commenced at the Governor’s House in Chitral.

Since 2001, Focus has established integral community response capacity as well as search and rescue capabilities in Chitral and the N. Areas of Pakistan.—Agencies