| On October 9th 2005, Pakistan was hit by a massive earthquake.
The quake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, and was centred in Kashmir.
The school day had just began and many school children were killed
as their schools collapsed. Because the laws controlling building works
in the area aren't as strict as in the UK, the buildings there aren't
very strong, putting them at risk from quakes.
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said that 19,000 people were
killed and thousands made homeless. Rescue efforts were difficult
because of landslides destroying roads and bridges, and a lack of
helicopters. He asked for aid to pay for helicopters, as well as
tents, blankets and medicines.
By now people had not eaten or drank water for 3 days. It was realised
that two million people could have lost their homes. Many people
were sleeping rough out in the open. In the UK, the Disasters Emergency
Committee (made up of 13 charities in the UK) met to talk about
how they could help. They began sending food: pulses, flour, and
wheat
- food to keep people alive, as well as setting up medical camps.
They say that people here can help by fundraising, now for emergency
aid, and for a long time to help rebuild schools and hospitals.
Two weeks after the quake hit, adults and children were coming
down from the mountains to emergency medical camps that have
been set
up. Waiting so long for medical help has led to infections and
gangrene. The United Nations said that there is only a window
of 3 weeks to
get aid to people up in the mountains before heavy snow stops
aid. If aid stops thousands more people will die. They said they
needed
more countries to offer helicopters to get aid into the mountains.
By now they think that 51,000 people had died and and the number
of injured more than 74,000. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), sent in 1,500 tents, 4,500 blankets, 2,200 plastic sheets,
3,000 jerry cans and 700 kitchen sets to affected, to set up
a secure camp environment for around 500,000 of those made homeless.
Nearly
500,000 people have received UN World Food Programme (WFP) high-energy
food rations but over 1 million people still need food.
Three weeks after the quake hit, they have received only $5.5 million
of the $30 million it needed for the emergency operation, and to
help over 3 million people now homeless. The UN World Food Programme
(WFP) warned that it might be forced to ground its helicopters, within
the next two weeks because of lack of funds to fly them. UN Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) Ann M. Veneman said “The children and their families
cannot wait much longer. We must do everything we can to ensure their
survival. They need shelter and care as quickly as possible without
urgent action from us large numbers of children could die immediately,” she
said.
Four weeks after the quake hit a news briefing in Geneva was told: "We
are continuing to look for additional sources of supplies, but our
efforts are still hobbled by a lack of funds.” With only $133
million of the $550 million sought so far contributed or pledged – the
UN and its partners have decided to target up to 200,000 people living
in high altitude valleys above the snowline who may become inaccessible
within the next four weeks, as well as an estimated 150,000 people
who may choose to move down to the lower valleys.
By the end of November the prime minister said that International
donors have pledged $5.4bn. The UN has said though that the money
has not yet arrived and resources will run out in January.
Sources
BBC News
http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/
Then searched for Pakistan Earthquake
United Nations website
http://www.un.org/News/
Then search for Pakistan Earthquake
(This will give you an update)
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