Balochistan Earthquake 2008
USAID Sends Additional Earthquake Assistance and Team of Experts to Pakistan
The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $1.5 million in emergency assistance in the aftermath of last week’s earthquake in Balochistan province in Pakistan. This brings the total USAID emergency assistance package to $2.5 million to date.
USAID committed $1 million of the $2.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC is providing emergency assistance, including emergency health care, shelter, relief commodities, and water and sanitation interventions, for earthquake-affected populations. Through its international and non-governmental partners, USAID is distributing much needed relief commodities in Balochistan province. On November 3, the first trucks transporting USAID-funded plastic sheeting for the construction of temporary shelters arrived in Quetta. This plastic sheeting will be distributed to affected villages in Ziarat District, and additional USAID-funded plastic sheeting will be distributed over the next three days.
Red Cross in funding plea for Pakistan earthquake
The International Committee of the Red Cross on Sunday appealed for 7.8 million dollars in emergency funding to help victims of the powerful earthquake that rocked southwest Pakistan this week.
The ICRC said that the money would be used to step up the relief effort being carried out by its teams and those from the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.
Up to 300 people were killed and tens of thousands more left homeless when a 6.4-magnitude quake struck before dawn in mountainous Baluchistan province on Wednesday, flattening mud-brick houses as people slept.
Pakistan earthquake affects 108,000 people, half of whom are children
UNICEF is providing immediate lifesaving assistance to children and women affected by the earthquake that struck the southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistan, on October 29, killing approximately 200 and affecting some 108,000 people—50 percent of which are children. Almost 19,000 of the affected are under five-years-old. The numbers are likely to increase with aftershocks and as relief teams gain access to more remote areas. On October 30, the Chief Minister of Balochistan appealed for international assistance to be provided to the earthquake victims.
Earthquake hits apple orchards, livelihoods
The sweeping valley of Ziarat district in southwest Pakistan, hit this week by a powerful earthquake, is famous for its ancient juniper forests and orchards filled with golden and green apples.
But the 6.4-magnitude tremor that destroyed homes and killed up to 300 people also felled many trees, robbing local apple industry workers of their livelihoods at a time when the sought-after crop was nearly ripe for harvest.
“Our region is the largest apple producer in the country,” said Dilawal Kakar, the mayor of Ziarat town, where Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had a retreat and which remains a haven for summer tourists and pilgrims.
Islamic charity to build temporary homes in Pakistan
An Islamic charity accused of terrorist links by the United States has pledged to build 1,000 temporary homes for survivors of the Pakistan earthquake, a move likely to expand the group’s influence in the impoverished region.
Authorities said Friday that the death toll would likely top 300 from the 6.4-magnitude quake that hit the mountainous area early on Wednesday, destroying 3,000 houses and leaving some 15,000 people homeless.
The affected area of Baluchistan province is inhabited mainly by Pashtuns, the same ethnic group from which the Taliban draws most of its strength. The region has not seen the level of militant activity common in other districts along the Afghan border.
Earthquake in Balochistan not to affect oil, gas reserves
The powerful earthquake which hit Balochistan in wee hours of Wednesday will not affect oil and gas reserves there, a senior geologist told The News.
Most of the damage has been caused in and around picturesque Ziarat which does not has any major hydrocarbon reserve, said Pakistan Association of Petroleum Geoscientists (PAPG) Chairman, Syed Wamiq Bokhari. “(Extent of) impact depends on strength and location of the earthquake,” he said, adding “I do not think it will have any significant affect.” Ziarat block has low drilling density as far as oil and gas exploration activity is concerned, according to Capital One Equities Head of Research, Saad Bin Ahmed.
Earthquake Strikes in Balochistan: More than 250 dead, 20,000 displaced
The 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Ziarat division of Balochistan on October 29, 2008, has left 250 dead and more than 20,000 dispalced. Areas of Ziarat, Khawas, Varshoom are the worst affected areas where more than 300 houses have been destroyed completely and recovery of bodies and injured from the rubble is still underway.
So far 44 aftershocks have been recorded.
Severe cold temprature (–1 to –4 C night time) making it difficult to continue with rescue and relief work.
Contacts for Relief and Rescue Work:
International Medical Corps (IMC) [website]