Nearly two-weeks after the earthquake in
south Asia, Tearfund partners are still racing to bring aid to communities
in need of help.
A team of doctors from Emmanuel Hospital
Association (EHA) are treating injured patients in the devastated area
of Uri. The team of 10 people, including two orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetists,
a gynaecologist and nurses, has set up in part of the area's destroyed
hospital.
"The medical team is treating broken legs, arms and other bones, as well as carrying out some amputations as gangrene is a problem nearly two weeks after the earthquake," says Roy Alex, a Disaster Management Advisor for EHA. He reports that serious medical cases are being taken by helicopter to Srinagar.
Mr Alex says that the people of Uri are living in tents, under plastic sheeting or in the open air. Many are fearful of further quakes. More remote communities are still being reached, he says, including one where TB infections are affecting the majority of the poverty-stricken villagers. "We will be seeking special medication to help them," he states.
Tearfund partner Discipleship Centre (DC) this week began distributing temporary shelters, hygiene kits and clothing to 200 families in the Indian district of Baramulla. Niranjan Lall, Director for Relief and Development, says: "We are distributing rice, dhal, oil and sugar, along with blankets and warm clothing too. The weather is getting colder and some snow has fallen." He says DC is seeking to provide warm shelters capable of withstanding the onset of winter.
Meanwhile, more than £15 million has been pledged to the Disasters Emergency Committee's (DEC) Asia Quake Appeal. Members of the British public are continuing to give generously via emergency phone lines and post to the appeal launched last week by 13 UK aid agencies, including Tearfund. As the weather in the region deteriorates the need for shelter is increasingly urgent and the DEC is calling on the public to continue with their generous support.
The most critical challenge is the logistics of delivering shelter that will stand the harsh winter conditions, states the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Donations have been flooding in via the DEC website - www.dec.org.uk, via the 24-hour donations phone line - 0870 60 60 900 - and by cheques to PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA. Donations can also be made at high street banks and post offices or through PayPoint.
For further information:
For further information about Tearfund's response, contact Keith Ewing,
Head of Media & PR, +44 208 943 7779; +44 (0) 7710 573749.