Appeal for Pakistan earthquake victims
07 February 2001

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent today launched an appeal for 557,303 Swiss francs to support a Pakistan Red Crescent emergency relief operation in aid of victims of the deadly earthquake that struck western Indian province of Gujarat and eastern Pakistan on 26 January.

Twelve people have been killed and 100 injured in Pakistan's Sindh province. Preliminary estimates indicate that the affected population stands at more than 900,000 with some 10,000 houses collapsed. In remote and highly inaccessible areas of Sindh province in Pakistan, thousands of families lost everything as their houses collapsed in the wake of the jolt, measured at 7.9 on the Richter scale.

This appeal seeks to provide temporary shelter for 1,500 of the worst hit households in the most affected district of Sindh province. Fifteen thousand blankets will also be distributed as high priority items to a total of 22,500 beneficiaries as night-time temperatures drop close to zero at this time of year.

"While the world's attention has been directed, understandably, to the suffering of earthquake victims in Gujarat, it is important not to forget the plight of families in remote areas near the India-Pakistan border, who have also lost everything, just as they were beginning to recover from last year's cruel drought," says the International Federation's Director of Disaster Management, Mr. Jean Ayoub.

Following the earthquake, PRCS officials in the provincial capital Karachi, supported by the International Federation, have already despatched 450 tents, 1,000 blankets, 1,000 food parcels and 200 family packs of basic items to the Tharparkar sub-district for immediate distribution.

A PRCS assessment within six sub-districts of Tharparkar, indicate that 1,546 houses have been completely destroyed, leaving some 23,000 people (3,100 families) homeless.

Today, a joint PRCS/International Federation convoy transporting 770 tents and 7,500 blankets has left Islamabad to reach the sub-districts of Nagarparkar, Diplo and Islamakot.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Geneva: Andrei Neacsu, Information Officer, Tel.: +41 22 730 4372
Tony Maryon, Emergency Officer Tel.: +41 22 730 4332

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.