Kashmir Quake Update: A Desperate Race Against Winter to Aid Victims
While estimates of the loss of life climb above 50,000 (and are likely to rise much higher) the challenge of attending to the survivors is nearly overwhelming. The isolated mountain villages suffered severe losses both in terms of lives and shelter.
While estimates of the loss of life climb above 50,000 (and are likely to rise much higher) the challenge of attending to the survivors is nearly overwhelming. The isolated mountain villages suffered severe losses both in terms of lives and shelter.
In one village 30 % of homes were destroyed, but another 35% are dangerous and uninhabitable. Most of the survivors are sleeping in the open and the weather has been very cold with rain and hail. Within a few weeks the snow is expected to begin. For about 500,000 of the people who survived the quake, help has yet to arrive. Some are being evacuated, but the ones who are in most desperate need of evacuation due to injuries are the ones least able to climb down to areas where helicopters can land. For these villagers the descent is agonizingly slow. Many of this steep terrain is also at risk of avalanche. Helicopters will not be able to continue rescuing mountain villagers when the winter winds pick up. One military official was quoted as saying “Given the situation as it stands today, there may be some areas that we will not be able to reach, now or later.” Survivors are getting desperate. In one valley the mayor told journalists that so far only 91 tents had been distributed for an estimated 45,000 people in his area. In some areas tents are not enough to survive the 6 foot deep snows that are normal in winter. For some, survival depends on rebuilding homes in less than 4 weeks. The Pakistan Military and a variety of Aid agencies are working feverishly to reach and assist the victims of this earthquake, but the numbers in need are staggering and the desperation is heightened by the rapidly approaching winter. Many may die from exposure to the cold and from untreated injuries. Medical camps are being established in the most accessible areas. The Pakistan Military is importing two million blankets and 100,000 large tents. The U.N. says 150,000 more tents are en route and another 100,000 are promised.
Church World Service (CWS) and Action by Churches Together (ACT) are expanding their relief efforts. Shelter kits are being air dropped to the most affected and difficult to reach areas, but these efforts can only happen when the weather allows. Heavy rain and hail has interrupted relief delivery. Forty to forty-five metric tons of winterized tents and blankets are en route from Norway. The remainder of the 85 ton shipment will arrive in Pakistan this week. CWS is providing medical assistance to 100,000 people impacted by the quake—half in Azad Kashmir and half in the Northwest Frontier Province – through two health Centers. Many who are homeless are afraid to seek shelter in the damaged buildings that remain. People are asking for water, food, tents and medicines. “This has been the most severe earthquake in this area for 120 years,” said the director of CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan, Marvin Parveiz. “. . . this is going to be remembered as the earthquake that killed the children,” he added.
In India, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and The Church of North India are responding. The loss of life in India is estimated at 1300, but many villages have yet to be reached. Roughly 32,000 homes have been destroyed. The region affected includes territory disputed between Pakistan and India. This region is dangerous due to the undercover operations of militants which may endanger staff and supplies en route to affected villages. The Indian Army has launched relief and rescue operations and has established makeshift hospitals. CNI is sending aid through the church in Srinigar. Travel to and from the Kashmir region is complicated by the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over territory there. CASA will be targeting 10,000 of the most affected families in Indian-controlled Kashmir for their relief program. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable sectors of the population, including women, children and the elderly or infirm. Assistance will include blankets, clothing, utensils, tarps, tents for temporary shelter, and tin sheets for mid-term rehabilitation. CASA has 58 year of disaster response experience and has the capacity to assess needs and deliver aid in an organized and efficient manner. The total relief operation is proposed to be completed in 2 months.