BANGALORE: They were among the first volunteers to reach areas in Jammu and Kashmir hit by the earthquake. A team of volunteers from the Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore and its sister organisation, International Association for Human Values (IAHV), are now camping in several remote and mountainous villages, including Shalkot in Baramulla district.

Reports reaching here say IAHV has distributed four truckloads of emergency relief supplies, including blankets, plastic sheets, food, and milk powder in these villages. In several places, the volunteers had to carry relief material and walk a few kilometres of hilly terrain to reach the survivors. After the initial relief reaches the victims, the volunteers will focus on trauma relief programmes in all quake-hit villages. They are among the few non-government organisations offering workshops on trauma for doctors and nurses which they have started in Baramulla Government Hospital. Special counselling programmes for children who have been gripped by fear psychosis owing to the earthquake are also being planned.

Before reaching Shalkot, the volunteers provided relief material and other humanitarian services to victims in Salamabad and Tangdhar. "We distributed material, extricated bodies from debris, and did whatever we could. Now we will go back and help bring the people out of depression and trauma," says the team's leader, Khalid Wasim, in a message sent here.

IAHV has also begun relief operations in Pakistan. A team of volunteers are camping in Balakot, the worst affected area, to distribute emergency relief supplies. Through its office in Dubai, IAHV has pledged relief materials worth $ 100,000 for Pakistan.

These emergency supplies will include generator sets, tents and medicine. IAHV is also facilitating visas for volunteers who want to go to Pakistan to help out.

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