The death toll from the Wednesday (Oct. 29) 6.4-magnitude earthquake in southwest Pakistan along the Afghan border remains unclear, with officials saying it could climb beyond 300, though officially the toll has been said to be 160 persons; unofficial estimates have put the toll at about 350 persons. Some 3,000 homes were destroyed and about 15,000 left homeless, the Associated Press reported.
Many houses collapsed during the quake and some were destroyed in landslides that followed it. Stunned survivors spent the rest of the night in the open, with little more than the clothes in which they had been sleeping. The mountainous region is thinly populated and local infrastructure is poor, making it difficult to get a clear picture of the casualties.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working with our ecumenical partners in the area including Church World Service/Pakistan (CWS) and ACT member Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). $60,000 in Rapid Response Funds has been provided to help with the initial immediate response of providing tents, blankets, food and winter clothing for up to four thousand families. The members have the capacity to provide urgent help to 40,000 people in the area.
What is PDA is doing right now:
Nine truck loads of relief items including 1,000 winterized tents, 4,000 hygiene kits, 4,000 thermal blankets, 1,922 sweaters and woolen jumpers, 100 food packages, 335 bags of rice, 335 tins of cooking oil and 85 cartons of water purifying tablets has been dispatched to provide assistance for 4,000 families.
Food packages include the following items: 80 kg of wheat flour; 40 kg of rice; 10 litres of cooking oil; 7 kg of sugar; 2 kg of tea; 2 kg of milk; 1 kg of salt; 1 box of matches; 1 box of soap; 7 kg of pulses has been delivered.
In addition to the above items, on November 5, 2008, the distribution of another 100 winterized tents and 400 blankets to earthquake survivors in Mana (Zindra) and other villages.
There will be a continued respond to immediate needs of affected families by distributing tents and other relief supplies, and there are plans to provide support during the rehabilitation phase as well.
You can help with the response efforts through your prayers and through your generosity. Your contributions provide the resources needed
to assist with immediate and long-term recovery needs.
Individuals may give through their local Presbyterian congregation, on the secure PC(USA) website, or by sending their check to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Please include the special designated giving account DR000038 – Pakistan with your giving information.
Congregations should send donations through their normal mission giving channels. |
