UNITED NATIONS TO LAUNCH $272 MILLION FLASH APPEAL FOR SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE

UNITED NATIONS TO LAUNCH $272 MILLION FLASH APPEAL FOR SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE

GENEVA/ NEW YORK, 11 October (OCHA) -- The United Nations today launched a Flash Appeal for approximately $272 million for Pakistan, in response to a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on 8 October that caused widespread destruction in the South Asian region and high casualties, especially among children.  The Flash Appeal aims at life-saving and early recovery activities for a six-month emergency phase.

The earthquake has destroyed more than 80 per cent of structures and buildings in parts of northern Pakistan, and strong aftershocks are threatening buildings already damaged by the initial earthquake.  Many cities and villages in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the most affected areas, have been wiped out.  More than 4 million people are affected, of whom 1 million are in acute need of assistance and 2 million homeless.

The Flash Appeal will cover the priority needs of the affected population for the next six months in shelter (winterized tents, plastic sheets, blankets, mattresses); nutrition (pre-cooked canned food, high energy biscuits, survival rations); medicines (antibiotics, typhoid medicines, first aid and surgical kits, water purification tablets); and transport (helicopters).

Due to strong and frequent aftershocks, survivors are afraid to return to those buildings damaged by the earthquake.  Many are sleeping in the open.  There is an urgent need for winterized tents to house these people, as the temperatures are beginning to drop, and winter expected to start in three weeks.  Medical care is also critically needed, as most of the hospitals and health care centres have been destroyed.  Food and clean water are also in short supply.

The geography of the region provides enormous logistical difficulties with landslides cutting off many roads, allowing access only by foot or helicopter.  Slowly, roads to the affected areas are being opened to light vehicles, but remote areas can only be reached by limited air resources.  Furthermore, 800,000 Afghan refugees live in the affected region.

The Flash Appeal is aimed at providing United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners with the critical resources required to assist the people and the Government of Pakistan in dealing with the impact of this unprecedented disaster.

For further information, please call: Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, tel.:  +41 22 917 2653, cell.:  +41 79 473 4570; Stephanie Bunker, OCHA- New York, tel.:  +1 917 367 5126, cell.:  +1 917 892 1679; or Kristen Knutson, OCHA- New York, tel.:  +1 917 367 9262.

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For information media • not an official record