WESTPORT, Conn. (Oct. 30, 2008) - Save the Children staff members in Pakistan are moving quickly to assist children and families
affected by an earthquake that struck Wednesday in southwestern Pakistan, killing more than 200 people and leaving 15,000 homeless. The impact area is a remote mountainous region of
Pakistan, approximately 3 hours drive from Quetta, the provincial capital, where Save the Children has an office. The agency has been working in the affected areas for over 20 years. "Two emergency response teams have arrived in the impact area," said Ned Olney, in charge of emergency response operations for Save the Children US. "They are reporting freezing
temperatures in the region, which is complicating relief efforts, with many families forced to sleep outside."In the worst-affected areas, Save the Children staff members report, entire
villages have been leveled. In the outlying areas, where homes are damaged but not destroyed, people are afraid to enter their homes because there remains a risk of collapse due to frequent and strong
earthquake aftershocks. Thousands of earthquake survivors, including many children, spent Wednesday night sleeping in the open. Staff members report that some women were so cold that they
wrapped themselves in plastic bags trying to stay warm. Unfortunately, many families, including small children, face at least one more night in the open without basic essentials like plastic sheeting,
warm clothing and blankets. Save the Children staff members are working to provide homeless families with basic necessities including tents, shelter kits, blankets, sleeping bags, plastic
sheeting, cooking stoves, kitchen utensils, and hygiene kits. Olney said that Save the Children works with children and schools in Afghan refugee camps within several hours of the earthquake
site. He said initial reports were that all children in these camps were safe.
For more information please contact Mike Kiernan Mike, Senior Director, Media &
Communications, Save the Children USA: Mkiernan@savechildren.org; Office hone: +1202-640-6630; Cell: +1202-460-0614
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Survivors wait for their turn during the distribution of relief goods near Ziarat, October 30, 2008. Pakistani army helicopters scoured mountains on Thursday for survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck ...
