Appeal for Assistance for the Pakistan Earthquake Victims

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The Earthquake that struck the Northern Pakistan, including the Pakistani Kashmir on 8th October has left a long trail of destruction and devastation beyond imagination, comprehension and description. As the mountains around the epicenter, some 120 kms North of Islamabad continue to violently shatter, break and slide causing continuing aftershocks, the surviving shelter-less population of the area about 3 million seek shelter, medical aid and food for their survival against the approaching snowy winter. In this natural calamity over 55,000 people mostly children and youth perished as they were buried under the destroyed houses, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities. Injuries mostly fractures warranting amputations is estimated above 70,000. The local population spread all over the rough mountainous terrain lose all of their possessions, besides their kith and kin, property, livestock, jobs and businesses. A great majority of the survivors has lost its bread earners and a large number of small children have been orphaned. It is a massive, moving and unprecedented tragedy that has touched all and sundry in all spheres of life in Pakistan. The actual magnitude of tragedy and devastation may never be exactly known due to difficulties of access to the devastated areas.

After the initial shock, public and private agencies and the Pakistan Army with the help of international volunteers, equipment and materials have launched a massive relief operation in the affected area. The dead are being pulled out from the debris and being buried in mass graves while the injured are being shifted to nearby cities for treatment. Meanwhile relief materials including food, utensils, tents, blankets and warm clothing are being distributed through a vast effort network at voluntary, NGO’s and government agencies levels.

However, due to approaching harsh and snowy winter, there is an urgent need for tents and blankets for about 3 million populations spread over and scattered across the affected inaccessible mountainous region. Some of the far-flung areas and hamlets are in dire need of shelter and food but because of lack of helicopters and devastated communication, the relief effort is being seriously hampered. 

Meanwhile government estimates put the rehabilitation cost at US$ 5 billion of which not even one-fifth has so far been committed by international aid agencies. However, while the reconstruction and rehabilitation plans may yet take some time to come on ground, the urgent need to provide shelter to the displaced 3 million people is both acute and crucial.

Pakistan urgently needs tents, blankets and medicines as well as medical and para medical staff. The sooner this help reaches the needy, the more effective it will be in saving precious human lives who, though have survived this earthquake, face battering by the harsh winters. Friends abroad who are involved with mountains in some way are requested to come forward and provide whatever assistance they can.

The relief goods can be routed through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, through providing donations to the Alpine Club of Pakistan in cash and kind or donations to the President of Pakistan Earthquake Relief Fund in all Pakistani Banks abroad. The ACP Account No is:- 

NBPAPKKAA02R

712447-0

Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain,

Alpine Club of Pakistan

National Bank of Pakistan Cantonment Branch,

Rawalpindi, Pakistan   

We are grateful for your kind assistance towards Earthquake Relief efforts. Thank you.

Alpine Club of Pakistan

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