Photo Credit: Refugees International
04/20/2006

It was clear in the hours and days immediately following the earthquake that the level of devastation and the critical needs of the 3.5 million displaced people would overwhelm existing governmental response agencies. Local non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, the corporate sector, and individuals working on their own all took action to care for the needs of their fellow citizens. The size and scope of this outpouring of spontaneous support were unprecedented in Pakistan, and were instrumental in saving lives during the period when the more formal governmental and external responses were being mobilized.