A delegation from Muslim Global Relief (MGR) have returned from the disaster zone and share with Asian Image readers their experiences.

Upon arrival to Pakistan the team met Government officials of Punjab and attended a specially organised briefing and presentation by the MGR Pakistan team.

After an overnight rest to get over the jet lag a convoy of MGR vehicles and trucks of relief supplies set off on the motorway enroute to our camp in Pateeka via Islamabad.

After an overnight stay in Muree, all the team was in several layers of winter clothing as we set off with the convoy down the mountain towards the Neelam Valley and Kashmir.

Our trucks had arrived ahead of us and were already being unloaded by MGR Pakistan team, so we decided to travel further into Patika to see how it had been affected. Nearby all the shops had collapsed with many shop-keepers now trading in their remains.

The Pakistan Army Rangers division was stationed here with constant movement of helicopters in and out carrying relief supplies and people. Major Arsalan was kind enough to give a brief synopsis of his divisions activities and commended MGR on its efforts in the region.

Travelling back to the outskirts of the town to where our relief supplies had been unloaded we noticed a sea of multi-coloured tents on the valley bed below us.

It was very difficult trek approximately a half mile up the steep mountain to a plateau where the MGR tent village had been set-up.

All of the men, women and children greeted us with surprise at first, but once we explained why we had arrived and who we were, they were very appreciative and expressed their gratitude for the help being provided.

Shabnam the only women in our team, sat amongst the women folk in each tent and made them feel at ease. Almost each family had lost a child whilst at school on the day of the earthquake. We listened to their requests and reassured each family that MGR was there to serve them on a long term basis with permanent housing schools and clinics.

The night was spent around the camp fire underneath a cold dark sky full of stars. Being sensitive to the tremors, the survivors pointed out to us a noise heard in the distance and a slight shaking of the ground, as being an after-shock.

Many hours were spent listening to their harrowing tales of how they had been virtually entombed in the rubble which was once their homes and how they had been pulled out by other survivors.

The rest of the night was spent with at least six members of the team to a tent huddling together to escape the bitter cold winter night.

The following morning was spent distributing more blankets, duvets, tents and food items to the survivors before descending down the mountain and on the journey back to Muzzaffarabad towards the other camps of MGR in Bagh.