HANDS is one of the largest NGO of country having strong roots in the community and Report of EID celebration with works in most of the districts of flood affected people of SINDH Sindh & Baluchistan. HANDS is currently working in 18 districts of Sindh and in Jafferabad & Quetta in Baluchistan since many years and has its regional offices at all places. HANDS has more than 1000 staff and about 100,000 volunteers available. H-No, 140-C, Block2, PECHS, Karachi Pakistan Phone: +92-21-4532804-4527698 Fax 021-4559252 Email: [email protected]: www.hands.org.pk Pakistan is reeling from the brutal ever massive floods. Millions are living at the roadsides ,tents and their homes and villages have been washed away and completely destroyed. This devastation is still continuing. The current floods have surpassed all the previous such calamities in terms of destruction and financial losses. It requires an effort in real terms to help out the victims stand on their feet. The rehabilitation process is always slow and it would take years to do that. Similarly the auspicious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is the most illustrious and most- awaited amongst Muslims all over the world. Eid-ul-Fitr, which is observed at the end of fasting month of Ramadan, is considered as a sign of happiness, peace, and joy for the Muslims community. Muslims celebrate the prosperous occasion of Eid by wearing new apparels and sending Eid greetings and gifts to their loved ones. However, the Eid 2010 celebrated on September 11 is different because of the floods calamity that struck many regions not only in SINDH but also in Pakistan. The celebrations of Eid 2010 faded away from the faces of millions of flood victims, who have lost their families, children, and homes in the worst floods in the history of Pakistan. The most joyous festival of Islam was celebrated by flood victims in donated tents and shelters. The flood has not just damaged town, village and homes, but has also taken away dreams, hopes and happiness of poor people. They could never visualize that their family would be forced to leave the comfort of home and spend Eid in a relief camp this year. It is a very somber holiday this year, with millions suffering in Pakistan from the devastating floods. On this occasion, when many of PAKISTANI are with family, eating incredible meals and wearing new clothes, in that critical time HANDS remembered the many families who aren’t as lucky. All Pakistanis celebrated the happy occasion of Eid-ul-Fiter in their homes with their relatives but the affected areas of Flood affected people which are not cleared by Flood are still living in the camps far from their homelands and their relatives are in a pity condition. On the happy occasion of Eid, HANDS celebrated their happiness in its true spirit with the Flood affected people and their children at Sukkur ,Skhirpur ,Jacoabad, Kashmore and Thatta Flood affected people camp to convert their sorrow and grief in happiness. All families of camp come together and special Eid meals were prepared to mark the end of fasting and it was a special time for children. Girls received new clothes, and wore new glass bangles and put mehndi (henna) on their hands and boys got new shalwar kameez (traditional clothing). Children often received a small sum of money from adult relatives. On the Eid day HANDS General Manger Social mobilization, Advocacy and Disaster Management Mr.Zafar Ali Deharaj, Manager Emergency Mr. Saifullah Bhutto and respective DEMs along with their staff members met with all the camps members tent to tent and distributed Gift bags including food and non food items (raw food sweets, Bakeries, Toys, Balloons and sports items etc, and beside this 3340 packs of milk were also distributed among the Flood affected people children. In addition singing program was held in which local singers were invited so that they may entertain flood affected peoples with their sweet singings. .