On 29 October, an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale devastated parts of the province of Balochistan, Pakistan, with the districts of Ziarat and Pishin being the worst hit areas. Further aftershocks over the last seven days have created further damage and fear. Close to 17,500 households were internally displaced by the emergency (IFRC, Nov 1). ACT members Church World Service (CWS, Pakistan/Afghanistan office) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) are providing assistance in Ziarat.
Following assessments conducted in 17 villages in Ziarat, CWS and NCA report that many survivors in remote villages have not yet received assistance due to roads being damaged or blocked by landslides. The provincial government responded immediately, but aid only reached those who were easily accessible from main roads.
Mud and timber houses in the area have collapsed and people are still living out in the open without proper shelter seven days after the initial quake. With temperatures at night reaching a low of -4°C, vulnerable people are suffering from cold-related illnesses, particularly women, children and the elderly, who do not have tents, blankets or warm clothes.
Water systems have been damaged and contaminated water is being used for drinking. Cases of diarrhea are increasing. Other urgent needs include food, medicine, stoves and basic utensils. Damage to dams poses the additional risk of flooding in the affected areas.
ACT response
CWS working with its local partner, Strengthening Participatory Organisations (SPO), conducted an assessment of nine affected villages in Ziarat District finding a total of 230 households and 2,851 people affected in the areas, where no government aid had reached. NCA with its local partner, Taraqee Foundation (TF), conducted a survey of eight of the worst-hit villages in Ziarat (Wahm, Suri, Srah Khazai, Chari, Talari, Thora Zawara, Wurchum-Kawas and Lawar Kech-Kech). A total of 700 households (4,900 people) were identified as requiring assistance.
As of 3 November, CWS has dispatched nine truck loads of relief items including 1,000 winterised tents, 4,000 hygiene kits, 4,000 thermal blankets, 1,922 sweaters and woolen jumpers, 100 food packages, 335 rice bags, 335 oil tins and 85 cartons of water purifying sachets. Tents and food items have been distributed in the villages of Jalal Abad, Babu Gul Muhammad Bale, Ragha, and Kech. In Kawas Union Council, 268 winterised tents and 1,071 blankets were distributed in five villages in Kawas Union Council. NCA distributed 187 tents in Kech, 50 tents in Kawas, 200 tents in Harnai, 147 stoves and 85 quilts.
Both CWS and NCA are applying Sphere standards in their response and are actively attending various coordination meetings with the government and other non-governmental organisations, based in the provincial capital, Quetta.
Support from the ACT Rapid Response Fund (RRF) of US$60,405 has been sent to CWS and NCA, and a full ACT appeal is expected in the near future.
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Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.Member contacts:
Church World Service (CWS) Pakistan/Afghanistan
Takeshi Komino (takeshi@cwspa.org.pk)
Saadia Yaqoob (saadia@cwspa.org.pk)
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
Bushra Ghazanfar (bushra.ghazanfar@nca.org.pk)
Rubina Ali (rubina.ali@nca.org.pk)
Media contact:
Sidney Traynham, Assistant Communications Officer
(office: +41 22 791 6711 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868 / sjt@act-intl.org)
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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