As the one-year anniversary of the Pakistan earthquake approaches, an exhibition of photographs of the aftermath of the disaster, Nature’s Fury, is set to open in Birmingham. The photographs have been taken by award-winning Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam; former President of the Bangladesh Photographic Society, founder of the Bangladesh Photographic Institute and jury member for the World Press Photo award. The exhibition will be officially opened by the Shahidul Alam on Tuesday 12th September at The Drum, the National Centre for Black Arts.

An estimated 73,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake of 8th October 2005 which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, another 70,000 people were seriously injured, and 2.8 million people were made homeless. Concern Worldwide commissioned Shahidul Alam to travel to Pakistan to visit two of the provinces that suffered the greatest destruction and loss of life, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and North West Frontier Province. Shahidul’s pictures reveal the devastation caused by the earthquake, and the resilience and determination of the people affected as they begin to rebuild their lives.

Concern has been working in Pakistan since 2001 and responded to the earthquake by providing emergency relief to around 20,000 families. As we move into the rehabilitation phase of programming Concern is now working with communities in North West Frontier Province to improve peoples' long term, sustainable access to food and income.

Lyndall Stein, Director of Concern UK, is delighted that the exhibition is coming to Birmingham. "Asian communities throughout the UK provided vital support to those affected by the disaster, both in financial and emotional terms. Concern is proud to be launching this exhibition at The Drum in Birmingham. We want people who supported the relief efforts to have the opportunity to see these moving and poignant images. ’

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