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Latest Death Toll: 73,000 Dead
A violent Earthquake hit Pakistan on October 8, 2005 at 8:50 a.m. leaving hundreds dead, injured and shelterless. The earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale had its epicenter approximately 95 kilometres north-east of Pakistan 's capital city, Islamabad . The earthquake caused widespread destruction in northern Pakistan , Muzzafarabad (Azad Kashmir) as well as damage in Afghanistan and Northern India . Sadly, the number of the dead and injured keeps on increasing day by day. According to the latest figures by the Federal Relief Commissioner 53,182 have been confirmed dead while 75,146 are wounded. According to the WHO, the destruction let loose by the earthquake is far bigger than the tsunami for it has affected 4 million people- 2 million of them severely; has rendered an estimated 2.5 million people homeless and has left millions others in grief and in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Rescue efforts were initially complicated by the remote terrain and blocked roads. Poor health infrastructure in these impoverished areas was further incapacitated by the loss of many hospitals. Children- the Worst Sufferers of the Earthquake Children remain the most vulnerable in the aftermath of the earthquake's devastation. Many students were killed, injured and trapped when their school buildings collapsed. Many children died in their homes with their mothers, while their fathers worked out in the open. Millions of children have been left vulnerable to cold, hunger and illness. The exact number of children killed by the earthquake is impossible to know, as the death toll continues to change and the figures available do not always distinguish between adults and children. Considering that 50% of Pakistan 's population is children, one can safely assume that half of those affected by the earthquake are children and, sadly, the proportion is probably much higher. Thousands more children sustained injuries in the earthquake, either from falling debris, landslides or stampedes as students ran from their schools. Children who have been directly or indirectly affected by the earthquake may also be traumatized, both by the experience of the earthquake itself, and also by the destruction and death they have witnessed either directly or on television. Children in the affected areas are now vulnerable to the cold, hunger and illness, as severe winter weather has started. Dead bodies trapped beneath the rubble pose a threat of epidemics.
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One-minute Silence for Victims |
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It was a day of remembrance, and also a day of soul-searching. Exactly a year ago, a devastating earthquake had struck Azad Kashmir and parts of the NWFP, leaving 73,000 dead and 3.5 million homeless.
Grief-stricken but united in mourning with the earthquake survivors, the nation on October 8 morning observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those killed by the deadly temblor.
But the spirit of camaraderie was accompanied by angry demonstrations by earthquake victims who, upset with a patchy reconstruction and rehabilitation effort, complained that they would have to spend another harsh winter in makeshift tarpaulin tents.
President Gen Pervez Musharraf told earthquake victims in Mansehra and other places that the government was doing all it could to help them get to their feet. “At least Rs50 billion has already been distributed among the victims to help them rebuild their houses in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP. Those who have not yet received the house-building funds will soon get them,” he promised.
Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker announced that the US would train 30,000 teachers and build 50 schools in the quake-affected areas. In Islamabad, survivors held a vigil to remember the people crushed to death when the quake brought down an upscale 10-storey apartment block called Margalla Towers. |
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SPARC Lends Helping Hand |
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SPARC tried to react as quickly as possible to assist with the relief in the affected areas. The presence of a strong Child Rights Committee helped in this respect. SPARC's team was in Balakot within 48 hours of the earthquake; the purpose was need assessment but it ended up being involved with trying to rescue children from the various schools that had collapsed. Save the Children US donated 70 tents, and 120 tents were mustered from donations collected by SPARC, that were distributed amongst the affectees in the minimum possible time.
Bernard van Leer Foundation donated a substantial amount, along with friends in Qatar, United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and of course Pakistan. SPARC is ordering more tents for distribution. Two trucks with relief goods were sent by SPARC to Balakot by the fourth day. The CRC (Child Rights Committee) Faisalabad was the first CRC to react and sent a truck full of relief goods that was distributed in Pattan Kallan. Another truck sent by Ms Nadia Gul of SPARC Lahore was sent to Batal and Battagram. Two trucks with relief goods were distributed in Balakot within the first week of disaster by CRC Nowsehra and Charsadda. More than 150 jackets were distributed at the Jalalabad camp in Muzaffarabad by the SPARC team. SPARC's team continued to remain in Balakot during the initial two weeks in Balakot. Thirteen laborers were hired from Peshawar who were used for two continuous day to recover bodies from more than seven schools in Balakot. Four students of medical college from Peshawar were used in Balakot to provide emergency medical assistance to far flung villages on the mountains. Money was collected and given to SPARC by the CRCs in Bannu, Hangu, Charsadda, Mardan, Malakand, Sargodha , Muzaffargarh, Larkana and Mirpurkhas. SPARC's CRC Swat sent two trucks of food items, clothes, blankets and medicines to Shangla District which has also been affected by the earthquake but is being ignored due to the magnitude of the catastrophe.
SPARC continued to work with children at the various hospitals in Islamabad . Urgent material was provided to more than 40 children at the NIH hospital and Buddy Packs were distributed to more than 80 children at the Poly Clinic. Four television sets were donated to PIMS Children's Hospital and one set to Polyclinic along with a DVD; SPARC's Chairman Mr Jabbar was present on the occasion. |
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