Latest update on Asian earthquake & UK Assistance |
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Background An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale (and at a depth 10 kilometres) hit at 08.50 Pakistan time (03.50 GMT), on 8 October with the epicentre in Muzaffarabad, 95km north-northeast of Islamabad; a highly populated region. The earthquake covered an area of approximately 30,000 sq. miles and affected nine districts in Pakistan in total: Abbottabad, Batagram, Mansehra, Shangla, and Kohistan in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Poonch and Bagh in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The latest death toll in Pakistan has reached 73,331, with 69,392 injured. One British citizen was killed. Around 3.5 million people have been affected (500,000 families) and nearly 2.5 million people have lost their homes. In India official reports indicate that there were 1,307 deaths and 4,500 people injured. Estimates are that up to one million people have been affected across four districts. The Indian Government has not called for international assistance.
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International Aid The UK Government has pledged over £128 million, to help with the relief effort; £70 million is for the long term reconstruction of the area over the next 3 years, while £58 million has been given to the emergency fund (of which £48.5 million has already been committed). The most recent assessment made by the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank, estimated that Pakistan will need almost $5.2 billion for relief and reconstruction. A donor reconstruction conference was held on Saturday 19 November in Islamabad at which the international community pledged more than $5.8 billion towards the long term reconstruction effort. This extra funding pledged at the Conference has not yet been disbursed as the emergency phase is still ongoing, but plans are in hand to devise funding allocations. This extra funding has enabled the Government of Pakistan to increase its compensation budget from 20 billion Rupees to 80 billion Rupees. Funding agreed at the conference includes: • UK, France and Germany have all pledged more than US$100 million each; • USA and Saudi Arabia have each pledged over US$500 million each; • EU Member States (excluding EC funding) totals over US$700 million; • EC pledges reached US$100 million; • The World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) pledged around US$2.5 billion (mostly in the form of loans).
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Current situation Heavy snowfall and rain is reported across the affected region. The bad weather is seriously affecting relief operations:
There are reports of tents collapsing following heavy snowfall (work is underway to establish how to stop this from happening again), and further supplies of suitable winter clothing are urgently needed. Of most concern is the need for more shelter, camp management, water and sanitation.
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What has the UK Government done to help? So far the UK has provided £58 million in funding for the relief effor. This has funded 16 flights carrying 900 tonnes of relief supplies including:
• Over £7 million towards the UN Flash Appeal including support for the UN Air Service to maintain airlifts; • Over £3 million to the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement; • £3 million for the use of three RAF Chinook helicopters which have been transferring casualties to Islamabad and flying aid into the region. These have airlifted 329 tonnes of relief supplies and carried out 151 medical evacuations; • A unit of Royal Engineers (59 Squadron) to work under NATO command; • Over £4 million for 78 aid flights in support of the following organisations:
• Specialist staff from Military and other planning agencies
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