On October 8, 2005, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The quake was centered at Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, where an estimated 90% of buildings were destroyed in the earthquake. Many have been left homeless by the widespread destruction.
Aftershocks continued to shake the region for months after the initial quake, and mudslides added to the injuries and destruction. The mountainous terrain of the region made it very difficult for rescue and relief efforts to reach survivors. ARC has had operations south of the earthquake region, in Quetta, Pakistan, serving Afghan refugees since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2002. ARC Pakistan deployed staff from operations in Quetta and its head office in Islamabad to provide relief in the Bagh district, within the earthquake zone.
In order to prevent further loss of life, ARC launched a multi-faceted relief program on 16 October- only eight days after the earthquake.  ARC has saved thousands of lives in the immediate relief phase by constructing 1,258 shelters for the most vulnerable survivors; providing shelter packages to 50,000 beneficiaries and distributing 1,922.07MT of food items to 46,000 beneficiaries in 6 months. ARC reduced the survivor’s risk of disease by distributing water purification materials, installing 2,638 latrines and conducting hygiene education. Since the majority of health facilities were destroyed. ARC helped fill the gap by operating six basic health units in district Bagh for 46,000 survivors. 

The ARC transitional post-earthquake recovery plan has focused on implementing a community-driven multi-sectoral development strategy to rebuild economically sustainable and vibrant communities before the onset of the next winter season.  The activities not only improve the immediate well-being of the beneficiaries but increase the resources of the target population so they are not forced to move to camps in order to survive the winter.
 
In the transitional phase, ARC has expanded its health care coverage from 46,000 beneficiaries in 3 Union Councils to 135,000 beneficiaries in 12 Union Councils with support from Direct Relief International and the South Asian Earthquake Rehabilitation Fund. Furthermore, the ARC-UNICEF Community Development Project is bringing basic health care and health education to the doorsteps of over 200,000 beneficiaries in Bagh.  ARC is also implementing an OFDA funded livelihood program that focuses on rebuilding economically sustainable and vibrant communities through agricultural revitalization, water scheme rehabilitation, hygiene education and livestock replacement which benefits over 50,000 earthquake survivors. 

ARC has also developed capacity in water and sanitation through OFDA and UNICEF projects by efficiently distributed and facilitated the installation of over 2,368 latrines by cooperating and coordinating with the target communities in Bagh Tehsil. To decrease the risk of disease and rebuild back the pre-existing infrastructure, ARC is rehabilitating 91 Water Supply schemes, creating waste management mechanisms for schools and conducting hygiene awareness training for 14,500 survivors, including teachers at 109 schools. By increasing the resources and health knowledge of the community, ARC is helping the earthquake-affected populations regain a sense of normalcy and become self-sufficient.  ARC’s Women Friendly Spaces with the partnership of UNFPA address livelihood development and protection needs of women in the tense post-earthquake environment by providing psychosocial support, health education and livelihood training.

ARC International remains committed to assisting refugees, displaced people, and those at risk around the world to help them survive crises and rebuild lives of dignity, health, security and self-sufficiency. ARC International Pakistan will continue to work on primary health care, comprehensive reproductive health care including gender-based violence, community development, livelihoods and water and sanitation throughout the country when displaced populations’ lives and livelihoods are at risk.