"The Save the Children emergency
teams in Pakistan and India have been shocked by the scale of the devastation
they are finding. The numbers of affected children are rising by the hour,
as the full horror of this earthquake becomes apparent. The focus of our
work over the next few days will be on distributing blankets, warm clothes
for children and setting up safe play areas for children. The international
community needs to show the same speed, generosity and determination in
getting aid to the survivors of this disaster as in the immediate aftermath
of the tsunami. Quick delivery of aid will prevent further loss of life
from exposure and disease."
Toby Porter, Director of Emergencies,
Save the Children UK
Actions taken to date:
UK Head Office
- =A350,000 released from the Emergency Reserves within hours of the quake striking for immediate relief and protection.
- An urgent appeal to the public has been launched asking for =A3500,000. (Call 0207 012 6400) or www.savethechildren.org.uk/earthquake)
- 2 Emergency Response and Logistics staff departed UK for Islamabad Sunday 9th October.
- 2 Emergency Response and logistics staff leaving for India Monday 10th from neighbouring Sri Lanka.
- Additional specialist emergency personnel being mobilised in UK, neighbouring countries and the region for immediate despatch to both India and Pakistan.
Pakistan
- Staff in Muzzafrabad, estimate thousands have died in this one town alone, with many people still trapped or lost in the debris. It took our team five hours to reach the area on foot as the roads have been destroyed.
- Airlift , in particular helicopters will be urgently needed to access the other affected areas
- Many other affected areas have not yet been reached.
- Save the Children emergency staff deployed to disaster area this morning as part of a joint assessment with other agencies. We have been informed that the assessment teams have been facing difficulties in getting through to the worst affected areas due to landslides.
- The first information we have is that the situation is worsening by the hour as the full horror of this quake becomes apparent.
India
- Most of the deaths in Jammu and Kashmir following the massive earthquake on 8 October were caused by building collapses. Staff of Save the Children are currently surveying the destruction and the impact on the lives of children and families in Baramulla District, one of the areas worst affected on the Indian side.
- In the northern part of the district, staff of Save the Children are reporting that about 80-90 per cent of buildings reported damaged or destroyed. The town of Uri, near the epicentre, and about 57 villages nearby were especially hard hit. The death count is expected to rise as the debris is cleared.
- "We must focus on helping the living," said Brian Heidel, Director of Save the Children's India programme. Within a few hours after the disaster, Save the Children's local team based in Srinagar reached Baramulla District started assessments in villages in Baramulla District.
- The magnitude of the earthquake is the highest recorded so far in Jammu and Kashmir. The state is among the most vulnerable in the country to earthquakes, according to the National Institute of Disaster Management. The last major quake to hit the area was on 19th November 1996, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale.
- Areas affected: Homes, schools and hospitals are reported to be razed to the ground in the most affected areas of Uri in Baramula District. Almost all buildings have suffered damages. With winter setting in, the number of people left homeless will be the most serious issue for the region.
Save the Children has been working in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 28 years bringing immediate relief following disasters and long-term improvements in the lives of children and their families.
For more information contact Save the Children Media Unit on 0207 012 6841 or 07831 650 409.
Save the children fights for children in the UK and around the world who suffer from poverty, disease, injustice and violence.
We work with them to find life long answers to the problems they face.