PESHAWAR – Alkhidmat Foundation has announced the launch of a Rs 500 million rehabilitation and reconstruction phase for flood-affected families after already providing relief worth more than Rs 300 million.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North Ameer Inayatullah Khan, JI KP Central Ameer Abdul Wasi, Alkhidmat KP Central and South President Khalid Waqas, Alkhidmat KP North President Fazal Mahmood, and Alkhidmat Peshawar President Arbab Abdul Haseeb said the devastating cloudburst floods of August 15 wreaked havoc across nine districts of KP, causing heavy loss of life and property. Hundreds of lives were lost, over 800 houses were destroyed, 3,000 houses partially damaged, while crops, orchards, and markets were washed away.

Since the first day, more than 10,000 volunteers of Alkhidmat have been engaged in rescue and relief operations. So far, 5,600 food packages, 1,000 cooked meals (deigs), and food for over 80,000 people have been distributed. Relief also included 106,000 water bottles, 600 tents, 2,000 tarpaulins, 800 kitchen sets, 3,000 mosquito nets, 2,000 winter packages, and cleaning of 468 houses and mosques.

Through 20 mobile health units, 195 free medical camps were organized, while 31 ambulances provided free transport to victims.

In the new Rs 500 million phase, Alkhidmat will provide food packages and kitchen sets to 5,000 more families, build 100 houses and 60 mosques and madrassas, and supply construction materials to families for rebuilding their homes. In addition, 500 laborers will receive interest-free loans, medical centers will be upgraded, all orphan children will be sponsored, and 5,000 students will be given books, stationery, and school bags.

The speakers stressed that the scale of the disaster is too large for one organization alone to handle and appealed to philanthropists and affluent individuals to join hands with Alkhidmat in the mission of rehabilitation and reconstruction.