| Sumario: | The Pakistani city of Balakot is battling to recover from the devastating earthquake that ripped through it and neighboring Kashmir in October 2005. According to government estimates, more than 70,000 people died and over 3.5 million people in the region were left homeless, and the survivors continue to face considerable challenges, burdened by lack of work, inadequate shelter, and a doubtful future. Habitat for Humanity Pakistan has been helping the needy with transitional shelters to replace tents, and the need for permanent housing is apparent everywhere. The reality of the situation for survivors is, however, one of waiting, with no formal decision to begin reconstruction having yet been made. What is more, Balakot is located along an unstable fault line, where landslides are common and the possibility of future earthquakes is strikingly real. The writer reports on recovery efforts in Balakot.
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