Pakistan, 3 August 2018 - On 17th July, Badswat and Bilhanz villages in Immit Valley of Ghizer Distrcit in Gilgit-Baltistan were hit by a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), which led to the formation of an artificial lake. As a result, over 40 houses were damaged and road access for around 10 villages was blocked from the rest of the Immit Valley. However, due to the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat’s (AKAH) ongoing awareness on disaster risk mitigation and the early mobilization of the Community Emergency Response teams (CERTS), around 1,000 people were evacuated to safer areas prior to the disaster. No lives were lost because of the disaster.
Immediately after the disaster, AKAH worked closely with the district government, the Pakistan Army and the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) to provide relief to households affected by the disaster. Helicopters of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Pakistan Army were used to provide food and non-food items, including medicines, tarpaulins and tents, to the affected villages on an emergency basis. A medical team from the Aga Khan Health Service, including a psychiatrist, was also mobilized. The team worked closely with the Government Health Department to provide medical services to over 90 patients.
