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FOCUS USA
Tajikistan flood relief
Tajikistan, July 2015 – In July 2015 villages across Tajikistan experienced severe flooding and mud flows as the result of an outburst of glacial lakes up in the mountains. These disastrous events destroyed homes, knocked down power lines, and disrupted transportation and communication between villages. Focus Humanitarian Assistance Tajikistan, in collaboration with its partners and the […]
ShakeOut: Earthquake Preparedness
USA, October 2015 – During the month of October 2015, FOCUS-trained volunteers across the United States led their communities in the 2015 AKDN ShakeOut drill. The purpose of this drill was simple – practice makes perfect – as the drill taught individuals what to do in the event of an earthquake. In addition to teaching individuals […]
Earthquake relief in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan
Afghanistan/Tajikistan/Pakistan, October 2015 – Following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Central Asia in October 2015, Focus Humanitarian Assistance – in collaboration with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and other partner agencies – provided relief efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan to support affected communities. Immediately following the […]
FOCUS: Pakistan flood response
Pakistan, April 2016 – In April 2016, heavy rain and snow fall in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral triggered a series of devastating avalanches, flash floods and landslides that damaged over 600 houses. FOCUS evacuated critical patients utilizing AKDN helicopters and provided tents, blankets and non-food aid to affected households. With support from AKDN agencies, water purification tablets […]
Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development planning
The Challenge Afghanistan, April 2016 – “Afghanistan is prone to multiple disasters. This conference has helped us to understand the benefits of the tool of mainstreaming and create a road map for implementing mainstreaming approaches into key Afghan government ministries to achieve the goal of disaster resilient development, with the support of FOCUS and ADPC,” said Mohammad […]
FOCUS delivers emergency food assistance
The Challenge The high mountain communities residing in Big and Small Pamirs are predominantly Kyrgyz pastoralists, who maintain a nomadic lifestyle, and rely on their livestock for sustenance. Food security is an ongoing problem in this area, and the effects of climate change have heavily exacerbated the problem this year. Late snowfall limited the community’s […]
Agreement for a new phase of “creating opportunities in a safe environment”
Tajikistan, July 2016 – Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, and the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan have signed an agreement to implement Phase II of a 36-month project that will directly and indirectly enhance community disaster preparedness levels of approximately 50,000 people in Tajikistan. The project, “Creating Opportunities in […]
Focus delivers relief items to Takhar province
Afghanistan, October 2016 – Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) donated 125 tents and 100 Non Food Item packages to the Governor of Takhar to support 750 Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Kunduz. The Governor of Takhar, Mohammad Yasin Zia, expressed his gratitude to Focus Humanitarian Assistance and other NGOs who are helping with the response on the […]
Focus and USAID said sign agreement to create resilient communities
Pakistan, January 2017 – The Department of Emergency Management (formerly FOCUS) of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program initiated a project “Creating Resilient Communities in Shimshal Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan”. The project, which aims to build resilience against the threat of glacial […]
Fire safety and community preparedness
USA, February 2017 – On average, fire departments in the United States respond to a fire every 23 seconds. To prepare communities, FOCUS-trained volunteers in Chicago, IL provided training on how to put out small fires. Individuals were taught how to use fire extinguishers and other essential information on fire safety. FOCUS-trained volunteers also teach community […]
