In October 2005, a cataclysmic earthquake rocked Pakistan.
Dr. Ali has always had a deep desire to help the less fortunate and was deeply disturbed by the images and stories of suffering on the television. He resolved to go and offer his help as a surgeon in any way he could. His life-altering story of the three weeks he spent there is documented in this telephone interview. It is a unique window into who he is and why he does what he does.
We have included in the hope that his experience will help each of us to put our lives and our problems into perspective.
The government of Pakistan’s official death toll was 79,000, while officials say nearly 1,400 people also died in Indian Kashmir and four people in Afghanistan. The severity of the damage caused by the quake is attributed to severe upthrust, coupled with poor construction.
Believed to be the 14th most destructive earthquake of all time. People lived in mountainous regions with access impeded by landslides that blocked the roads, leaving an estimated 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan. The UN reported that 8 million people were directly affected. It is estimated that damages incurred are well over US$ 5 billion.
[wps_image_slider_container title=”Photos of Kashmir”][wps_image_slider_item image=”1594″ image_caption=”Tent city for homeless families “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1595” image_caption=”Major highway closed due to landslide “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1596” image_caption=”My bedroom “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1601” image_caption=”Army Tent city “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1604” image_caption=”Tent Hospital “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1602” image_caption=”With an Orthopaedic Surgeon before starting a case “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1597” image_caption=”People waiting in line to be seen “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1600” image_caption=”The awesome Operating Room Staff “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1598” image_caption=”This man carried his son, who broke his leg, for 10 miles to get medical attention “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1605” image_caption=”A young girl who lost her parents “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1603” image_caption=”Army Col. in charge of the surgical unit “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1599” image_caption=”Before leaving the camp “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1607” image_caption=”With some other physician friends before leaving “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1606” image_caption=”UNO chopper to take us back “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1608” image_caption=”Sitting in a Chinook helicopter ready to deliver medical supplies “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1609” image_caption=”Aerial view of destroyed homes “][wps_image_slider_item image=”1610” image_caption=”Foreign aid being delivered on top of the mountain “][/wps_image_slider_container]