In a sea of destruction, it appears that Muzzarfabad in Azad Kashmir has been the worst hit with some 80 percent of the buildings destroyed, apparently due to poor compliance with building codes. 11,000 people have been confirmed dead in this city. In the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the official figures indicate that 3,500 people have died and 8,500 people are injured. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the death toll is likely to rise to between 10,000 and 12,000 people.
Response
Donors announced $10 million in emergency aid to Pakistan and were rushing in doctors, helicopters, food, tents and sniffer dogs to locate people buried in the rubble. Aid agencies reported that more than 120,000 people were in urgent need of shelter and up to four million could be left homeless by the earthquake.
As the current chair of the Pak-Humanitarian Forum, CWS-P/A has been coordinating daily meetings with these partners in the region. The three meetings so far of international NGOs which are coordinating their responses have allowed significant information sharing. This forum has sent out three joint initial assessment teams consisting of representatives of the different organizations. The needs assessments indicate that the immediate needs are tents able to withstand winter weather, blankets, plastic sheeting and warm clothing. There are reports of people getting colds and fevers due to the poor shelter conditions. Water and sanitation services are urgent, although as yet no cases of diarrhea or water-borne illness have been reported.
On October 10, CWS P/A reported that it had immediately mobilized relief assistance for 6,000 families (a total of 15,000 people). They will be provided with food items and shelter kits. Supplies to set up medical camps are being organized to serve 100,000 people in affected areas with emergency medical aid, including immunizations. Following the needs assessment, a field team has already been deployed in the affected areas of NWFP to begin the distribution of relief items.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding to the crisis in Pakistan in cooperation with the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International alliance. Church World Service, also an ACT alliance member, has taken the lead in this response.
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