Concern launches book of photographs to commemorate Pakistan earthquake
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Concern UK is launching a book of photographs to commemorate the earthquake that struck Pakistan in October 2005. Concern worked with Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam to tell the stories of the people affected by this tragedy.
Shahidul travelled to Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the disaster to photograph and document the plight of those affected. He returned almost a year later, at the end of August 2006, to see how communities were coping and record how recovery efforts were progressing.
“The immediacy of the image and its ability to relate to individual concerns is why I take pictures” explains Shahidul. “Once you make visual contact, you can no longer relegate people to being numbers.”
Concern toured Shahidul’s photographs as an exhibition entitled Nature’s Fury throughout the UK, taking it to venues that were relevant for communities who had a particular connection to Pakistan. These included Wakefield, Bradford, Birmingham, Bethnal Green and Southall in London, and Glasgow and Aberdeen. You can view photos from Nature’s Fury by clicking here and here.
Honouring communities
Now, by producing this book, Concern and Shahidul Alam want to honour the communities who suffered in this terrible tragedy, and give them something by which to commemorate their losses.
Of the 1,000 books printed, half will be sent to Pakistan. Through Concern’s network of local partners it is hoped that many of those affected by this terrible tragedy will get the chance to see this book.
Chief Executive of Concern UK, Lyndall Stein, explains why she believes this book is so important: “I visited Pakistan a year after the earthquake. The mountains were still scarred with the awesome impact. Balakot was a shapeless heap of corrugated iron shelters and some tents still remained. Talking to the people of the area, both people affected and our staff, was very moving. Their commitment, courage, dignity and fortitude was inspiring. This book is to honour them and those they lost, and for their children, so they can see, know and remember.”
A limited number of books will be available to order from Concern for a suggested donation of £10. Please contact Cara Coslett for more information.
| Contact Concern | England & Wales Office |
|---|---|
| london.info@concern.net | |
| Phone | 020 7801 1850 |
| Post | New address: 13/14 Calico House Clove Hitch Quay London SW11 3TN |
