International Rescue Committee (IRC)

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From Pakistan’s battered Swat Valley

Over one million houses have been destroyed by floodwater, leaving an estimated 8 million people homeless.

Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC

A flood in the valley

  • In the absence of bridges, boats made from inner tubes and bamboo ferry passengers and goods across swollen rivers. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.
  • An old man, made homeless by the floods, collects firewood in Pakistan’s Swat valley. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.
  • Amjad Ali (with his neighbor Muhammad Aqil, right) has been forced to flee twice in little over a year. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.
  • Over one million houses have been destroyed by floodwater, leaving an estimated 8 million people homeless. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.
  • A girl sits by a damaged school in Swat district. As a result of the floods, education will be badly disrupted across Pakistan. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.
  • A communal well filled with thick mud in Mingora. Poor sanitary conditions and a lack of safe drinking water have created the potential for serious outbreaks of disease. To help stop the spread of disease, the IRC is distributing water purification tablets. The next step is to distribute drinking water and clean wells. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.
  • In some areas, the Pakistani army has set up makeshift lifts to ferry people across rivers. Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC.

Already battered by a brutal counter-insurgency war, the people of Pakistan’s Swat Valley are now watching their lives and livelihoods washed away by flood waters.

Photos by Peter Biro/The IRC.


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One year ago the Pakistani military launched an offensive to drive Taliban militants from Pakistan’s Swat Valley. More than two million people fled the fighting, provoking a massive humanitarian crisis. Now, the worst floods in Pakistan’s history have created even greater destruction and displacement.

I am travelling with a team of IRC aid workers who are helping to clear 12 miles (20km) of dirt track south of Kahlan, a village that has been cut off from the outside world since flood waters submerged all roads in the area.

Here are some photos I took along our route.  You can read the full story here.
 

6 comments

Comments

Thanks very much to everyone

Thanks very much to everyone who has contacted the IRC through this blog about your interest in joining our emergency response in Pakistan. We are unable to post comments that include resumes/CV’s and personal contact information. (You can learn more about our blog commenting guidelines here.) To apply for job, volunteer and internship opportunities with the IRC, please click the "Careers" link at the bottom of this page or visit www.IRCjobs.org.

how to apply for a job

how to apply for a job

Thanks for your question

Thanks for your question ahmad zaib.  To learn more about job opportunities and apply, please visit www.IRCjobs.org.

IRC Jobs: Thanks to everyone

IRC Jobs: Thanks to everyone who has expressed interest in working with the IRC in Pakistan. Please visit our Web site at www.theIRC.org/careers to learn more about available job and volunteer opportunities and apply. (We are unable to review resumes and CVs submitted as blog comments. Please read our commenting guidelines for more info.) Thanks again.

- Kate Sands Adams (IRC blog moderator).

what is the role of IRC for

what is the role of IRC for the rural area of swat on rehabilitation of the affected victims of fluids and terrarisom?

Dear Sir / Madam, I want to

Dear Sir / Madam, I want to work for international community... I have worked for unicef, red cross and european union funded project for earthquake affected Gujarat state of India as a construction consultant. Right now i am working as a freelance consultant for construction related projects. I will send my CV as and when required by you for your reference. Hope favorable response from your side. Regards, SHRIPAL SHAH

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