ReliefWeb

Save the Children has a team of people on the ground in Pakistan undertaking an emergency assessment to ascertain the scale of the damage in Baluchistan so that we can respond appropriately and quickly.

Amanda Weisbaum, head of emergency response at Save the Children UK, said: "The initial 48 hours are crucial - it is then that people are most vulnerable and it is then survivors need food, water and shelter. They will be in shock and with the onset of winter; freezing temperatures at night will exacerbate the situation."

Emergency teams must respond quickly, to reach survivors as soon as possible to prevent secondary deaths. But at the same time, roads may be damaged and experience tells us that they can sometimes become blocked by people fleeing the area. Tele-communication links - both mobile phone masts and landlines - could well be damaged, making communications difficult.

So far reports are coming in of 160 people dead and 15,000 homeless, however these figures could significantly change over the next few hours, particularly as some of the areas affected are extremely isolated and rural. Access to these areas may be very difficult.

The worst affected areas are Ziaret and Pishin districts.

Ms Weisbaum, said: "Save the Children is working quickly to help children and families affected by the quake. We will be delivering essential emergency kits and launching a fundraising appeal."

For more information call Shazia Khan in Londonon 0207 012 6844 or +44 (0)7831 650 409 or Dominic Nutton 0207 012 6546 or +44 (0)7720 467680.