Asia Quake in Depth
More than 73,000 people were killed, 69,000
injured and as many as 2.5 million people were
left homeless by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake
that struck Pakistan-administered Kashmir on
8 October 2005.
According to studies by the World Bank and
the Asian Development Bank, around $3.5 US billion
will be needed to rebuild areas damaged by the
quake.
At least 2.5 million people now live in tents
or emergency shelters. Another 350,000 to 400,000
people will spend the winter at high altitudes
where they will need supplies of food and shelter
materials to survive the winter.
Most of the 2.5 million survivors will need
food assistance in the coming months.
Tent Camps
There are currently 502 camps in the affected
area with a population of 187,506. Of these,
only 30 are planned camps, the rest have grown
spontaneously. Poor sanitation in the spontaneous
camps is creating health risks for camp dwellers.
Other shelter options are being actively considered
including non-tent options and other forms of
winter-resistant shelter.
Orphans
Islamic
Relief donors sponsored 174 orphans in Kashmir
and the North-West Frontier Province before
the quake. Sadly, three orphans from the severely
hit town of Balakot died in the disaster.
Since the quake, IR donors have signed up to
sponsor an additional 350 children who lost
their parents the disaster.
IR staff have re-established contact with all
the sponsored orphans who survived the disaster.
Tragically, most lost their homes and now live
in relief camps where they are exposed to the
harsh weather and lack the basic amenities of
life.
Muzaffarabad
The city of Muzaffarabad was ruined by the
quake. Roads, buildings, hospitals, schools
and houses were destroyed. The whole district
suffered 80% damage, leaving nearly 820,000
people affected by the disaster.
Thousands of survivors who lost their homes
now live in tent camps in Muzaffarabad with
basic sanitation facilities, although some clean
water is now becoming available.
Neelum Valley
Thousands of houses in the Neelum Valley have
been destroyed. The whole area remained cut
of for several weeks as the road between Muzaffarabad
and Kuttan was blocked by landslides.
Barian and Chalayana, two villages in the Neelum
Valley home to about 7,000 people, were completely
destroyed in the disaster.
Bagh
The death toll in Bagh is estimated at 15,000
and 80 percent of the houses in the district
have either been completely destroyed or are
uninhabitable. Nearly 370,000 people are in
need of aid in Bagh district.
IR staff are distributing aid in the city of
Bagh and towns and villages in the district.
Poonch
More than 270,000 people in the Poonch district
have been affected by the earthquake. The town
of Rawalakot suffered 60 percent damage, while
Abbaspur is 80% destroyed.
IR is distributing aid in Rawalakot and villages
in the Poonch district.
