Pakistan Earthquake Emergency

(last updated on November 26, 2008)

Pakistan Earthquake Emergency

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rippled through Baluchistan, Pakistan on Wednesday Oct 29, killing more than 300 people, according to Pakistani officials.

The quake, which was followed by many aftershocks including one of 5.4 magnitude, buried people alive under the debris of their homes and left more than 70,000 residents homeless, according to estimates of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Many survivors lacked necessary supplies for survival, forcing many community members, including women, children and the elderly, to sleep outdoors in freezing temperatures.

“I put up a kind of shack from materials taken from my house as I and my family were literally freezing without a roof over our heads,” 30-year-old Aleem Khan told the United Nations news service—IRIN. “But it collapsed when another quake hit,” he said.

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Damaged Infrastructure

• roads
• hospitals
• schools
• water schemes
• electricity lines
• irrigation systems
• gas pipelines

Quick Response Eases Fears

Poor sanitation, cold weather, lack of running water and limited supplies threaten the capacity of aid workers to help salvage Baluchistan's grim situation. Many victims were fearful that cold and famine would claim their lives before aid arrives.

“I will only be able to put this fear behind me and get on with life when I and my three children are back in our home, indoors, where we feel safe,” Zakia Bibi, 25, told IRIN.

Limited supplies, long resource lines and the sheer number of victims have contributed to the suffering.

In conjunction with other aid agencies, Islamic Relief's emergency teams were immediately deployed and have since been conducting assessments in the affected areas, preparing for the immediate acquisition and distribution of necessary aid items, like food, blankets, tents and clothing.

“Islamic Relief is one of a few organizations that responded quickly to this situation and has been the only one who has provided us with food and kitchen sets,” said Muhammad Anwar, who lost his home, wife and son to the quake.

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Helping Those Who Need it Most

Ziarat, Baluchistan has been the most affected by the quake, with 233 confirmed deaths and over 21,600 people homeless.

“We are very worried about the children. Many are falling sick,” Dilawar Khan Kakar, mayor of Ziarat District, told IRIN.

Ayub Kakar, a Ziarat District health officer, told IRIN that children were suffering from pneumonia, chest infections and diarrhea.

In the union council of Kuch, which is one of the most affected parts of Ziarat, Islamic Relief distributed relief items to 300 families. These items included food packs, blankets and kitchen utensils.

“Now with this help sent by Allah in the shape of Islamic Relief I know that I have enough food for two weeks, so I am able to concentrate on finding somewhere safe for my remaining family members to stay and also some way to make a living,” said Anwar, a native of Ziarit.

“I thank Islamic Relief for the immediate help they provided to the survivors in our village – they have shared our sorrows and grief. By coming to our assistance so quickly they were able to support us and help us recover from our trauma,” he added.

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Islamic Relief in Baluchistan

Disaster is not new to Ziarit. Last year, floods devastated the region after a drought that lasted over seven years had left the province in shambles.

In response to the long spell of drought, Islamic Relief launched various relief operations in two of the most afflicted districts.

In 2002, a number of development initiatives were employed to not only provide sustainable resources to the locals but to also build their capacity to lead a normal life.

Islamic Relief's major focus in the area was social mobilization, drinking water schemes, agricultural development, the administration of basic healthcare and disaster preparedness.

Today, Islamic Relief's main concern is the rehabilitation of the thousands of earthquake victims before the arrival of Baluchistan's icy winter.

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