From Ruin to Resilience: A Multi-Stakeholder, Evidence-Based Framework for Earthquake Response and Recovery in Chupursun, Gojal Hunza
Abstract
Chupursun in Gojal Hunza has experienced a high-altitude, multi-village humanitarian crisis following continuous earthquakes and aftershocks. This article presents a multi-stakeholder, evidence-based approach for immediate relief, early recovery, permanent reconstruction, and long-term resilience. By integrating technical assessments, community participation, and international best practices, it provides actionable strategies for shelters, livelihood restoration, and climate-resilient reconstruction.
Crisis Context
On freezing nights in Chupursun, families lie awake under fragile shelters or open skies, uncertain whether the ground beneath them will tremble again. Homes have turned into rubble, and for months, survival has replaced normal life. Yet, beyond the mountains, their crisis struggles to receive the urgency it demands.
Entire villages such as Zoodkhun, Shetmerg, and Ispang have been completely destroyed, while others—including Sharisebz, Rashit, Kheil, Kirmin, Khyerabad, and Yarzirch—sustained partial damage. Approximately 600 households across 11 villages have been affected by continuous underground explosions and earthquakes since July 2025, with aftershocks still ongoing.
Immediate Response and Winterized Relief
Life-saving interventions must be prioritized. Scattered and unsafe tent settlements should be replaced with organized, cluster-based camps in safer areas, equipped with insulated shelters, heating, and essential services. Rapid structural assessments using red, yellow, and green tagging systems are critical to prevent re-entry into unsafe buildings.
The District Administration of Hunza should lead coordination and camp management, supported technically by the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH).
The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan must urgently scale up financial, logistical, and technical support. International partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and local NGOs, can ensure food security and mobilize volunteers. Fabric shelters should be deployed at scale to provide winterized protection for all affected families.
Relocation Strategy and Community Participation
Relocation must follow a “safe, livable, and connected” model based on Hazard Vulnerability Risk Assessment (HVRA). Sites must be geologically stable, accessible, and equipped with water and essential services. The GBDMA and District Administration should oversee hazard mapping, while the GB Government facilitates land allocation and infrastructure development.
Community participation is essential. Structured village committees representing all 11 villages must be actively involved in decision-making to maintain inclusivity, trust, and social cohesion. Relocation should proceed in phases—from transitional shelters to permanent settlements within one to three years.
Early Recovery and Livelihood Restoration
Cash-for-work and food-for-work programs can engage affected populations in debris removal, road clearance, and irrigation repair. Livelihood support should include agricultural inputs (seeds, greenhouses, irrigation) and livestock protection for yaks, goats, sheep, and cows.
The Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), in coordination with AKAH and GBDMA, should facilitate infrastructure rehabilitation and economic recovery alongside GB Government programs. Temporary schools, healthcare, and psychosocial support are crucial for social recovery.
Technical Assessment and Rehabilitation
Comprehensive technical assessments—including geotechnical surveys, hazard mapping, and structural evaluations—must guide reconstruction to ensure safety and sustainability. AKRSP, AKAH, GB line departments, and local institutions should coordinate rehabilitation efforts while temporary shelters continue to protect communities.
Permanent Reconstruction and Resilience Building
Permanent housing should adopt an owner-driven model with phased financial support, seismic-resistant designs, and technical supervision. Rebuilt infrastructure—roads, water, energy, and public facilities—must be climate-resilient and aligned with regional development plans.
Community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) programs, including evacuation drills and early warning systems, should be implemented alongside nature-based solutions such as afforestation and slope stabilization to reduce future risks.
Lessons from Past Disasters
The Attabad Lake Disaster demonstrated the effectiveness of the Aga Khan Development Network’s Multi-input Rehabilitation Program (MIRP), which integrated relocation, housing, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Similar initiatives in Bubur, Dayeen, and Taalidas highlighted the importance of cluster-based reconstruction and community-led development. Partial or under-resourced interventions prolong recovery and should be avoided.
Governance, Coordination, and Call for Prime Minister’s Package
A dedicated Chupursun Earthquake Recovery Cell should bring together the District Administration, GBDMA, AKAH, AKRSP, GB Government, federal authorities, WFP, UN agencies, NGOs, Ismaili Councils, and technical experts.
It is strongly recommended that the Prime Minister of Pakistan formally announce a special relief and reconstruction package for the Chupursun Valley earthquake-affected areas. This package should include:
Financial assistance for reconstruction and relocation
Land allocation for safe settlements
Livelihood support (agriculture, livestock, micro-enterprises)
Infrastructure rehabilitation (roads, water, sanitation, energy)
Technical support for seismic-resistant housing
Integrated rehabilitation based on technical assessments
Inclusive representation of all affected villages
Such a package would ensure rapid mobilization of resources, equitable support for all affected communities, and demonstrate government commitment to long-term resilience.
Conclusion
Chupursun’s crisis demands more than limited, fragmented responses. A comprehensive, equitable, and evidence-based strategy is essential. Phased interventions integrating immediate relief, recovery, technical assessment, reconstruction, and long-term resilience can transform this tragedy into an opportunity for sustainable development. Chupursun does not need sympathy—it needs strategy, solidarity, and sustained commitment.
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