At Diamond book shop in the city, now wreckage, Masroor (14) helps his father organise damaged text books, pulled from rubble. This is his father's shop and Masroor draws comfort in helping him during hours of need.

Of 1100 schools around the city, an estimated 800 have been completely destroyed by the earthquake. UN bodies quickly responded by setting up temporary schools at camps in various locations. Like two others, Nazia Gilani, a college student, volunteered to work as teacher at old campus camp and some 150 girls, aged in between 4-12, are happily responding to her very child-friendly style of teaching math and drawings. Mariam (6) of class one likes school and wants some toys after class hours that starts at 9 am and finishes at 2 pm.

So far, UNICEF has provided a large quantity of school-in- a- box, including school bags in several camps. The bag contains one basic book, a slate, pen, and pencil with a sharpener. Those supply brought smiling faces to children who badly need both recreational and educational materials.

UNICEF Education Officer Khaleda is very popular among children living in camps. Her arrival is greeted with claps and even when she departs, kids gather around car to show her their artistic drawings.

At Jalalabad camp in the city, volunteer-teacher Sayera is actively helping some 150 kids in learning from 8:30 to 1:00 PM. Her student Mariam (10) is full of energy and determination. She found time to write a story in English and asserts: "Whole Muzzafarabad is dead, because the citizens that are still alive are just skeleton of skin, as everyone has lost one or two relatives."

In all camps in the city, children are eager to continue with whatever form of learning is offered to them. These child heroes and adolescents have lost generations of friends, and are traumatised, however, they have quickly learnt the art of surviving and that will eventually help them carry on their lives, no matter what comes next.

It was a joyous scene at Al-Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences here. Aman (10) got reunited Thursday after being separated from family for 24 hours. With this reunification, a total of ten kids have returned home after earthquakes.

Aman, a mentally challenged boy, was found stranded near hospital. With collaborative efforts of different UN agencies and Social Welfare and Women Development Departments, the location of Aman's parents' home was tracked down. His father, Jamil Shah was earlier medically evacuated to Rawalpindi. Mubarak Shah (70), himself in fragile health, came to identify his grandson.

"We were so anxious about Aman. His father was away and I was feeling helpless. Suddenly this reunification happened. I am extremely happy", said tearful Mubarak.

Afsana (10), with badly injured left leg, is also receiving treatment at the hospital and waiting to be reunited with family. So is Aiad Hasan (13) who is eagerly waiting to read MEENA stories after his return to village.

The city of North-West Frontier Province bears all the hallmarks of a township completely destroyed by earthquake, and fittingly it has also developed the most orderly camps for the affected people.

Some 15 kilometers from Balakot, 394 tents have been erected for 2000 people at Garhi Habibullah, of which over 300 are under-five children.

For many of these children, this camp-life has offered time and space to fondly remember memories of family members, lost during devastating earthquake.

"I saw my mother falling through cracks and I don't know what happened to her after that", Fatema (13) weeped. Like her, some 413 boys and 323 girls have all similar stories to tell.

They are now receiving informal education inside camps. Clean water and sanitation

facilities are being provided and children are getting vaccination daily. The Child Protection Centre inside the camp is registering all children for providing better services.

Kids are also playing cricket and a few girls enjoyed camp moments playing with balloons.

The local army commander is overseeing the operations in this busy camp. Soldiers quickly set up tents. New entrants are greeted and escorted to marked camps and immediately enrolled for all basic services. They are also receiving hot foods every evening.

With snowing winter approaching, maintaining this discipline in camps will be a daunting task as more people and children will pour in Garhi Habibullah camps in coming days. Only few tents are in stock and more are urgently needed.

Rezwan-Ul-Alam works for Unicef, Bangladesh.