Disaster-prone: Last school and bridge funded by UK inaugurated

ISLAMABAD:

The last of 37 new schools and 49 new steel bridges funded by the UK have been rebuilt and are serving thousands in the areas devastated by the 2005 earthquake. 

The total funding for people affected by the 2005 earthquake from the UK comes to Rs20 billion.

Over 73,000 people were killed, including 18,000 students. Another 128,000 people were injured and 3.5 million left homeless.

The projects have been completed in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID).

The Head of DFID in Pakistan George Turkington inaugurated Ali Akbar Awan Boys High School in Muzaffarabad, which has been completed in time for the new school year.

All the new schools are designed to withstand future earthquakes up to 8 on the Richter scale.

“Our long term support over the last seven years has helped people who survived the disaster to build a better future for themselves and their families,” he said.

The UK government also contributed to a larger fund, to help rebuild more than 750 schools, nearly half-a-million houses and 850 government offices across areas affected by the earthquake. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2012.