The inspiration for ‘Islands of Hope’ came from my interaction with the subsequent rehabilitation effort for the affected, particularly the ones from Kohistan. Although tens of millions of people were left homeless and stranded in the wake of this epic deluge, prompting the United Nations to call it the ‘biggest water related catastrophe’ of the last few centuries, these Kohistan’s became the focus of my individual efforts. Scenes of helplessness and anguish were heartbreaking and apparent at every level. The Pakistani government's already inadequate and finite resources were completely exhausted.
Private citizens from within Pakistan and across the globe strove to help the needy. We found this to be a necessary and opportune time to rise to the occasion and exerted our efforts in any way possible. From personally assisting those affected at a ground level to providing financial and medical assistance from overseas, the efforts were widespread. I am not sure if by deliberation or shear happenstance, I ended up bringing this group of Kohistan’s to Atter Shisha, Mansehra, by the new Balakot City which was the refuge for the victims of the earlier earthquake.