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Second delivery of supplies distributed to Pakistan quake victims

ISLAMABAD, 28 November 2002 - UNICEF rushed in its second shipment of relief assistance to the earthquake victims in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The consignment, comprising health supplies for 10,000 people to address first-aid, respiratory infections and common diseases, was delivered to the local civil administration for vulnerable people in the relief camps.

Earlier in November, when the area was hit by the first three earthquakes, UNICEF sent in a rapid assessment team and provided relief assistance to affected families and communities. The emergency response included the provision of 350 jerricans for storing drinking water, 20,000 water purification tablets and one emergency health kit. These supplies were distributed through district government officials.

A UN assessment mission is currently in the affected areas, planning an extension of the emergency response along with government officials and other aid agencies.

The earthquake jolted Astore valley in the Northern Areas last week, forcing people to spend nights under the open sky in temperatures below freezing point. The area is still experiencing aftershocks. A massive relief operation is continuing despite the closure of the Karakoram Highway due to huge landslides caused by the quakes. The only available option is to airdrop supplies by helicopters.

Villages in the Astore valley, Doyan, Turbiling, Dashkin, Mashkin and Harchu of Diamer district were struck, leaving 23 dead and about 10,000 people homeless. So far, four camps have been established in the area to provide medical treatment to the 'quake victims. Army choppers are evacuating people from high-risk areas. Older women, children, and vulnerable people are being evacuated to safer places.

Earlier last week, the area was rocked by a series of tremors that killed 12 people and left some 2,000 people facing winter in a tented village. Earth tremors and landslides are common in the spectacular Karakoram range, where the Indian and Eurasian continental plates collide. A 1974 earthquake measuring six on the Richter scale struck the Pakistan village of Patan, killing 5,300 people.

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For further information, please contact:

Ms Katey Grusovin, UNICEF Islamabad, Tel: 2800133 Extension 2871 or Cell: 0320 450 6972
Mr Mohammed Ali Fahim, UNICEF Islamabad, Tel: 2800133 Extension 2829