The hope is alive..........

For the last month, I was worried about the flood conditions in the whole country but I wondered if I could do anything for the affected people.

Ramzan ul Mubarak has got a special quality that it brings accomplishment of our wishes sometimes even if we don't pray for that. I think that is the reason for which I got an opportunity to do something for the affected people.

Dr. Hena told me about the group of some of her friends who were willing to work for the flood victims, don't know how she thought but when she offered me and Komal to join the group for the relief work, it was a great surprise full of a feeling of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, Komal could not make it but she helped in the management of the trip and supported me to make it.

During the very short period of just three to four days, we managed to collect funds, buying stuff and to arrange other necessities for the journey. The plan was to take off from Karachi Friday Morning and to serve next two days in such a way that all resources and capabilities could be utilized for the relief of flood victims. Everybody worked hard and showed great interest for collecting funds and performing different tasks which were set for the plan.

I was very amazed to see the potential of people whom I started working with; they were all so courageous and passionate for the purpose. Most of them were very young guys and I was pleased to see their eagerness and being a part of such a team. Those who were a bit senior, being very supportive and helping with their experience in every matter made it easy for youngsters to collaborate and manage things in a better way.

On Friday Morning, 20th August, there were eleven people who were departing for the interior of Sind.

Dr. Kashif, Dr. Mohammad Ali, Dr. Faraz, Dr. Nausheen, Shabbir (Tabba Heart Institute), Dr. Hena (Civil Hospital), Mehmood, Ahsan and Omer (IBA), Rizwan and off course me too was a part of that excellent team.

We almost spent three days out of Karachi and the details are:

Friday: We left Karachi at 10 o'clock in the morning, spent almost eight hours in travelling when reached Sukkur. Having Iftar and Maghrib prayer at Sukkur, we moved towards Mirpur Mathelo and arrived there at ten in the evening and stayed at FFC guest house. After dinner and Isha prayer, we planned for the next day tasks and went to sleep.

Saturday: We left Mathelo at 5 o'clock in the morning just after Fajr and reached Kandh Kot at about 10 o'clock. There we held our medical camp in a small village at two different places few kilometers away each other. We also distributed some food items like milk packs, juices and mineral water bottles. After Zauhar prayer we moved towards Kashmor and on the way from Kashmor to Guddu barrage, we distributed these food items in different camps found on the way. We reached Guddu barrage at the time of Iftar and moved towards Mirpur Mathelo back right after Iftar. It was a hectic day as weather was so hot and humid and everybody was Fasting, so the day was proved to be an examination for our patience and courage. Everyone worked hard suffering the severe climate of Sind in fasting condition but Allah gave enough strength to us that we occupied this suffering. Before going to bed, again plan for the next day was discussed.

Sunday: As we had planned to return back till Sunday night, we moved towards Sukkur at 8 o'clock and reached there exactly at 11 o'clock in the morning. After having a survey about the camps that were found in Sukkur, we selected a camp and held a medical camp for almost three to four hours continuously, along with few guys of the team started distributing food items, also we had purchased a food package from Sukkur in a bulk containing (Water cooler with 2.5 kg Rice, 1kg sugar, 1kg lentil, 1lit milk, 200g tea, 0.5 kg dates, 4 soaps for face washing, 4 soaps for cloth washing, 10 sachet of shampoo and 1 comb) and distributed these in different camps on our way among approximately 475 families. We had our memorable Iftar that evening with a Khan sahib (Attaullah) who was a family friend of Dr. Faraz and also working for the relief of flood victims. He was so courteous, kind and open hearted man that despite of our refusal, manged to agree us for Iftar with him. After another long, tiring day, we rested at his home to refresh ourselves and left for Karachi after Maghrib.

With few little stay on our way, along with flavorsome ice cream of Matyari and Sehri at an open air hotel on the way from Hyderabad to Karachi, we reached Karachi at 6 o'clock on Monday morning.

Everybody was fatigued but pleased due to the successful accomplishment of our target. We touched our target very successfully by providing cooked food to approximately 1000 people and other stuff like juices, milk and biscuits to 2500 people, set mobile medical camps at different areas with provision of medicines of about 2,75,000 rupees.

I had to report at NCP on Monday morning, so I reached home at 6:45 a.m. and was at NCP exactly 8:30 in the morning. I think what i had done, gave me strength to make it otherwise i was not able to manage it.

I have got a feeling of satisfaction that I can't express in words, for the first time I understood the real meaning of fasting and other obligatory rituals that we perform. The real, courage and inner satisfaction that is superior to every other joy, the feeling of sacrifice of desires and personal aspirations for the sake of others.

It was a great working experience with some selfless persons, who sacrificed their money, time and potential without any benefit. I enjoyed the whole trip very much, everybody was friendly and we spent three days together just like a family, although there were many people whom I was meeting for the first time in my life but the relationship that brought us all in a closed contact was none other than our purpose. For this purpose and beautiful reason, Allah Taalah helped us throughout the journey and we made it back home safely.

There were few experiences that made me to think that the responsibility is now on the entire Nation, to unite and manage things in a more proper way for the relief of these victims. There are a lot of diseases that are being spread in the flood affected areas and even among the people who have migrated towards camps. The common ones are skin allergies, diarrhea and body pain. Dehydration due to the lack of clean drinking water is also very common in children, so in order to save their lives, the very first priority should be to provide them pure drinking water. It will prevent them from many diseases and the risk factor will also decrease to a great level.

I think what we can only do at the moment is to keep alive the hope. Hope, belief and struggle are the only weapons to survive in the worst conditions.