Weathered, once pristine tarpaulins afford a small measure of privacy for the myriad of tents pitched by the side of this single road – the only way in and out of the valley.

They are home to hundreds of families who miraculously survived the massive earthquake that devastated the area more than five months ago and who are accustomed to intensely private, solitary living.

In these deeply traditional areas, women do not leave the home to purchase personal items for themselves and must rely on their menfolk to purchase items for them

In just a few seconds, their livelihoods crumbled like the stone, mud and wood that killed many of their family members. Now, the one thing they are sure of is that the next five months present another struggle to survive as the time for return and recovery nears.

Other families like the Qayum’s are getting by in tents pitched beside their ruined homes. They salvaged what they could, but meeting the needs of ten people living in one tent is an enormous challenge.

That is why Abdul, 35-year-old father of three, wearing the traditional Shalwar Kameez and cap over his henna-dyed hair was happy to make the trek to World Vision’s distribution point in Jabouri to collect a female hygiene pack for his wife and family.

The packs, bought and assembled locally with US$7,150 from Australian donors, also include Gift-in-Kind clothes for small children and infants.

Containing bars of bath soap, washing soap, washable cotton material for sanitary protection, a blanket and knitted clothes, the discreetly packed kits were received with quiet, deep appreciation by the male heads of households, like Abdul, as is custom in these rural mountain villages.

Months after the tragedy that indiscrimately struck the men, women and children of north-west Pakistan, these consumables and items for female hygiene desperately need replenishing.

In these deeply traditional areas, women do not leave the home to purchase personal items for themselves and must rely on their menfolk to purchase items for them. Often they do not feel free to request extra personal items, such as soap or items for sanitary protection.

A protection needs assessment with women’s focus groups in the area also revealed health concerns such as skin diseases, many of which are due to poor hygiene.

As well, a number of babies have been born since the earthquake and families have not had the opportunity, or resources to purchase warm clothing for them, especially in remote villages like Jabouri.

After the last pack was distributed this day, World Vision had supplied packs to more than 1,500 households, meeting the needs of so many women.

When asked how his wife Zai Jan would respond to the female hygiene pack, Abdul said grinning, “My wife will be happy with me.” And, that makes Abdul happy.

The personal items for females in the hygiene pack will enable mothers like Zai Jan to maintain their health and give them the freedom to move outside their home and care for their family – a cause for happiness and a sense of dignity.

And the reaction from his children: “The children want beautiful clothes, especially the girls. God willing, they will be happy with these gifts.”

His son and their friends however are mostly interested in playing cricket, soccer and a local game called ‘Gully Danda’; which looks like cricket except different sized sticks are used in place of bat and ball.

The knitted clothing donated as Gift-in-Kind from Australia brought a smile to Abdul’s face, not only because it is colourful and cheerful, but because he knows it will help keep his small children warm, especially in the evenings when temperatures continue to dip to near freezing.

Abdul also supports his sister-in-law, who is a widow and her three young children and is confident the gifts will also bring them warmth and joy.

He also explained that it is difficult to keep things clean in the current living conditions, pointing to the shirt he was wearing almost with a look of embarrassment.

“The women use buckets to wash themselves outside the tent, surrounded by pieces of cloth for privacy and the men wash in the river,” he explained.

The soap, he said, came at the right time.

While Abdul’s 25-year-old wife Zai Jan takes care of daughters Aishrat (one and a half years), Bushra (six) and son Waqas (four), Abdul concentrates on rehabilitating the home as best he can with only 25,000 rupees (US$416) compensation.

He has had to quit his job as a driver to focus on the home now that the weather is set to improve, otherwise he fears his family will spend the spring and summer in the tent and run the risk of ushering in another winter without the protection of the home.

Abdul expects to receive another 75,000 rupees (US$1,247) after the government official verifies that the house is being built according to construction standards.

In the meantime, the family subsists on meagre savings put away before the earthquake and the milk from their sole surviving buffalo. They are among the fortunate, because a portion of their livestock survived and the livestock feed was also spared.

The buffalo typically produces five to six litres of milk per day, two of which are consumed by the family in the way of milk and cheese and the remainder is sold in the market for 16 rupees (US$0.27) per litre. The combined sale equates to just under US$1 per day – enough to buy 1.5 kilograms of sugar or three kilograms of flour in the local market.

“When the NGOs leave it will be difficult for us to survive,” lamented Abdul.

“We need basic things for the house – only World Vision has provided us with Corrugated Galvinised Iron sheets and food.”

Meeting the immediate needs of their children is utmost in the minds of Abdul and wife Zai Jan, but this father is also thinking of their future.

“I want my children to be educated but I have limited resources – grade ten could be as far as they can go.”

He explained regretfully that after grade ten, students are required to attend college, usually outside the area, incurring costs for transport, tuition, books and uniforms.

Grade ten is thankfully still some way off for the five children under age ten of Mohammud Shafee who will also receive clothing from the Australian-funded female hygiene kits.

Seven-year-old sons Anisur Rehman, wearing a traditional cap, and six-year-old Attiqor Rehman, wearing a winter beanie, were pleased to hold the knitted items that would fit them well. They laughed shyly in their father’s embrace as they described their favourite pastime was to play the ‘stick game’.

World Vision staff respect me and when I came they gave me everything they had. They were very cooperative

Nearby, a pretty girl called Saba (nine) discreetly squatted on the ant-covered soft ground away from the bustling distribution and strange men. She was soon joined by her 58-year-old grandmother Akbar Jan who came to collect the female hygiene kit for her family of ten, including five children. The family shares one tent.

Practicing her best English and eyes gleaming like the small blue-green stone pierced in her nostril, Akbar Jan spoke proudly of her grandchildren, explaining that Saba was in the first grade and attended the government primary school in Jabouri.

Asked if she squabbles with her brothers and sisters while sharing such a small space, Saba shook her head. It seems that the children, more than anyone, have adapted to the difficult conditions.

“When it gets cold we huddle by the heater,” she explained. Saba was pleased to see the warm clothing and blanket that amply covered both her and her grandmother as they squatted contentedly side-by-side.

“World Vision staff respect me and when I came they gave me everything they had. They were very cooperative,” expressed the grandmother who is hunched over with age and disability, her eyes, expressive hands and smile communicating so much.