It was a day of remembrance, and also a day of soul-searching. Exactly a year ago, a devastating earthquake had struck Azad Kashmir and parts of the NWFP, leaving 73,000 dead and 3.5 million homeless.

Grief-stricken but united in mourning with the earthquake survivors, the nation on October 8 morning observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those killed by the deadly temblor.

But the spirit of camaraderie was accompanied by angry demonstrations by earthquake victims who, upset with a patchy reconstruction and rehabilitation effort, complained that they would have to spend another harsh winter in makeshift tarpaulin tents.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf told earthquake victims in Mansehra and other places that the government was doing all it could to help them get to their feet. “At least Rs50 billion has already been distributed among the victims to help them rebuild their houses in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP. Those who have not yet received the house-building funds will soon get them,” he promised.

Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker announced that the US would train 30,000 teachers and build 50 schools in the quake-affected areas. In Islamabad, survivors held a vigil to remember the people crushed to death when the quake brought down an upscale 10-storey apartment block called Margalla Towers.

SPARC tried to react as quickly as possible to assist with the relief in the affected areas. The presence of a strong Child Rights Committee helped in this respect. SPARC's team was in Balakot within 48 hours of the earthquake; the purpose was need assessment but it ended up being involved with trying to rescue children from the various schools that had collapsed. Save the Children US donated 70 tents, and 120 tents were mustered from donations collected by SPARC, that were distributed amongst the affectees in the minimum possible time.

Bernard van Leer Foundation donated a substantial amount, along with friends in Qatar, United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and of course Pakistan. SPARC is ordering more tents for distribution. Two trucks with relief goods were sent by SPARC to Balakot by the fourth day. The CRC (Child Rights Committee) Faisalabad was the first CRC to react and sent a truck full of relief goods that was distributed in Pattan Kallan. Another truck sent by Ms Nadia Gul of SPARC Lahore was sent to Batal and Battagram. Two trucks with relief goods were distributed in Balakot within the first week of disaster by CRC Nowsehra and Charsadda. More than 150 jackets were distributed at the Jalalabad camp in Muzaffarabad by the SPARC team. SPARC's team continued to remain in Balakot during the initial two weeks in Balakot. Thirteen laborers were hired from Peshawar who were used for two continuous day to recover bodies from more than seven schools in Balakot. Four students of medical college from Peshawar were used in Balakot to provide emergency medical assistance to far flung villages on the mountains. Money was collected and given to SPARC by the CRCs in Bannu, Hangu, Charsadda, Mardan, Malakand, Sargodha , Muzaffargarh, Larkana and Mirpurkhas. SPARC's CRC Swat sent two trucks of food items, clothes, blankets and medicines to Shangla District which has also been affected by the earthquake but is being ignored due to the magnitude of the catastrophe.

SPARC continued to work with children at the various hospitals in Islamabad . Urgent material was provided to more than 40 children at the NIH hospital and Buddy Packs were distributed to more than 80 children at the Poly Clinic. Four television sets were donated to PIMS Children's Hospital and one set to Polyclinic along with a DVD; SPARC's Chairman Mr Jabbar was present on the occasion.