Emergency Relief to Quake Affected

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 7,451,707

An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale shook Islamabad and Rawalpindi at 08:50 am on Saturday 8 October 2005 forcing people to run out of their homes in panic. The quake’s epicenter lay 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Islamabad in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad area. The Director-General of the Pakistani Meteorological Department reported that it was the strongest earthquake in the area for the last hundred years. Hundreds of smaller tremors have been recorded in the area since the main quake on 8 October.

The death toll continues to rise with estimates currently over 50,000 dead and at least 65,000 injured. One of the worst hit areas is Azad Kashmir. Reports are still coming in about new casualties as the remote villages are slowly being accessed. Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalkot are among the worst quake-hit areas in Azad Kashmir.

Massive rescue and relief operations are underway in a race against time. They are facing immense difficulties because of broken and blocked roads and bridges in the affected areas and the worsening weather conditions with heavy rainfall, hail storms, low temperatures and mud and land slides. There is enormous need of relief goods with food, tents and blankets being the priority.

ACT member Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS (P/A) is providing emergency relief for Pakistan comprising shelter kits, food packages, housing reconstruction kits and medical services. The ACT Co-ordination Office (ACT CO) expects a revision of the CWS (P/A)-ACT component based on the ongoing assessments and monitoring done by the ACT members CWS (P/A)-ACT and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). ACT members CWS (P/A)-ACT and NCA-ACT are also assessing the situation in Afghanistan of which little is known so far.

This Appeal also includes the relief programme for Indian-administered Kashmir that will be implemented directly by ACT member Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA)with the assistance of partner organisations and the church network. CASA will provide relief kits comprising blankets, clothing and household utensils; temporary shelter – tarpaulins and tin sheeting.

This appeal replaces the preliminary appeal of 11 October.

Project Completion Date:

CWS (P/A) - ACT: 30 April 2006

CASA-ACT: 30 December 2005

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Signed by:
Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office