When the devastating earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale ripped through parts of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing over 80,000 and affecting almost 1 million school-aged children, 8,000 schools were destroyed.

As an immediate response to the tragedy, DIL set up its first camp school at Lake View Motel in Islamabad, where approximately 500 earthquake evacuees from Muzaffarabad and Bagh District were housed. More than 100 primary school students were enrolled, and teachers were hired from within the camp population. The camp school ran successfully for approximately three months in Islamabad, after which point they were relocated by the government outside of Islamabad.

DIL has now embarked on a new effort: to establish a primary school project in Mansehra, NWFP, in partnership with Agahi, a reputable local NGO. Six schools will be set up in 2006 with a target enrollment of more than 750 students. Teachers will be hired and parents' organizations will be created for each school from within the settlement communities.

A needs assessment survey of the communities around Mansehra, where people are relocated in temporary shelters, is already underway.

The earthquake took the lives of more than 20,000 children, and those who survived endured tremendous mental and physical distress. Many are showing signs of trauma and others will eventually suffer from it; therefore, DIL and Agahi plan to design a program that will also include psychological support for the students. The schools will also be equipped for handicapped students.

DIL is committed to bringing some normalcy to the children's fractured lives by returning them to the familiar environment of a school. Once again, we turn to our donors for their much needed support in this critical time.