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South
Asia earthquake: funding critical to ensure vital assistance reaches
earthquake victims 18 October 2005 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is concerned about the slow response to the appeal it launched to support the ongoing relief operation for victims of the strong earthquake which ravaged northern parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on 8 October. The 73-million-Swiss franc (€ 47 million/US$ 56.5 million) preliminary appeal is less than 25 % covered, while the emerging picture of needs on the ground, as assessment results arrive from remote communities, worsens by the day. Thousands of survivors are still living in the open in very cold night temperatures, some with open or gangrened injuries and with little access to clean water. It is estimated by the Federation delegation in Islamabad that of some 63,000 people known to be injured, only 16,000 have had medical attention. Particularly at risk are the children and the elderly. “We are worried that this trend will not allow us to fully support the Pakistan Red Crescent’s ongoing relief operation to initially assist tens of thousands of families over the next four months,” explains Susan Johnson, director of operations for the International Federation in Geneva, noting that the Federation usually receives commitments from donors for more funds, more quickly for disasters of this magnitude. The International Federation has already committed millions of Swiss francs to relief, shelter and medical care for earthquake survivors. On October 17 alone, it ordered 16,000 winterized tents, at a cost of 12 million Swiss francs, in addition to the 20,000 tents already in the pipeline, with only 13 million Swiss francs currently available in cash in the earthquake account. “With time so short before the onset of winter, we must take a significant financial risk to save lives,” adds Susan Johnson. Although destroyed or badly damaged roads, as well as poor weather conditions, are still posing enormous logistical difficulties, relief aid is reaching earthquake victims. Only last Friday, 58 local and foreign helicopters made 310 flights to bring in relief supplies and evacuate the severely injured. To date, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), active since the very first hours following the quake, has treated more than 5,000 injured people and distributed more than 130 truckloads of relief goods. Over the past few days, the PRCS has distributed winterized tents to 1,500 families (10,500 people). To speed up the relief operation, the Federation is setting up a logistics and operations base in Mansehra, 125 kilometers north of Islamabad. The base will be used to deploy emergency teams specialized in health care as well as in water and sanitation to the affected parts of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier provinces as well as to coordinate distributions of emergency relief. Currently, more than 87 international delegates from 19 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are participating in the relief operation. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Yrsa Grüne, Information Delegate, Pakistan Tel: + 92 301 532 87 12 / 00 882 16 54 207 114 (sat) Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer, Geneva Tel: + 41 79 217 33 45 / + 41 79 416 38 81 Siân Bowen, Manager, Media Unit, Geneva Tel: + 41 79 217 33 88 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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