Sunday, 22 January 2006

The Third Time

Back in Pakistan we head back to the quake zone - this time to Bagh. The winter has been mild but it threarens to get much worse.

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We take a small NATO helicopter supplied by Luxemborg. Halfway into our journey I realise we had left the tripod behind at the field hospital in Islamabad.

Alex explains the bad news to the pilot and asks if they can deliver it that later afternoon.

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We are being shown around by Save the children and they take us to one of their distribution points where they are giving out corregated sheeting.

We find a family who is picking up their goods and arrange to go home with them. Just a short way - 900ft down the hill - straight down the hill.

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The men carrying the sheeting 50kg worth seem to take it all in their stride - though they have to rest too.

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Finally we reach their home after about 45mins of climbing down. Shoot for 20 mins at their tented home and then start the long climb the way up. I soon give away the camera as hauling myself up is hard work enough. Thankfully we only have to go half way as the car is waiting on the road - still took another 45mins though.

Sunset over Bagh Valley.

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We head back to Save the Children’s house and have a well earned meal and a couple of sneaky beers thanks to ‘Fish’ - a German contractor.