Pakistan earthquake: MSF teams are on the ground assisting the worst affected population
Oct 31, 2008
On Wednesday 29 October, an MSF team reached the Ziarat area, the area most severely affected by a series of earthquakes. The force of the earthquake has destroyed most of the houses build of mud and people were forced to sleep out in the cold. Approximately 150,000 people live in Ziarat district situated in a vast mountainous area about 75 km north of Quetta, with a population of about 50,000 most severely affected.
MSF immediately set up a 24 hour clinic to treat wounded - mainly cuts and bruises. The team dispatched blankets, cooking sets, jerry cans, tents and body bags from our stocks in Islamabad. A large afterquake occurred Wednesday evening, when many people were attending funeral to bury their dead.
MSF's main concern is in gaining access to people living in small communities further up in the mountains and in providing them with medical care and relief items. Most of the area affected is more than 2,000 meters above sea level with the nights cold and close to freezing. Many people were sleeping in the open, fearing more tremors.
Today an MSF team returns to help people in Khan Killi, a second team advances further into Pishin District to assess the situation, while a third mobile team explores other settlements and treats injured and distributes relief items.
Overall it seems to be a localized earthquake. However, the hilly Ziarat district has been badly affected and there are still areas that have not yet been reached by emergency aid. Project coordinator Stephen Cooper describes: "The people are trying their best to help themselves. Some areas have been severely affected, but the overall extent of destruction seems to be limited to a 25-30-kilometre belt. Nonetheless, we are continuing to seek out those worst effected and to provide suitable relief."
MSF immediately set up a 24 hour clinic to treat wounded - mainly cuts and bruises. The team dispatched blankets, cooking sets, jerry cans, tents and body bags from our stocks in Islamabad. A large afterquake occurred Wednesday evening, when many people were attending funeral to bury their dead.
MSF's main concern is in gaining access to people living in small communities further up in the mountains and in providing them with medical care and relief items. Most of the area affected is more than 2,000 meters above sea level with the nights cold and close to freezing. Many people were sleeping in the open, fearing more tremors.
Today an MSF team returns to help people in Khan Killi, a second team advances further into Pishin District to assess the situation, while a third mobile team explores other settlements and treats injured and distributes relief items.
Overall it seems to be a localized earthquake. However, the hilly Ziarat district has been badly affected and there are still areas that have not yet been reached by emergency aid. Project coordinator Stephen Cooper describes: "The people are trying their best to help themselves. Some areas have been severely affected, but the overall extent of destruction seems to be limited to a 25-30-kilometre belt. Nonetheless, we are continuing to seek out those worst effected and to provide suitable relief."
Leave a Comment