World

Pakistan Earthquake Children Dying From Freezing Temperatures

Freezing temperature compounded with inadequate winter shelter and clothing has caused pneumonia and even reports of death among children affected by the Pakistan quake.

Freezing temperature compounded with inadequate winter shelter and clothing has caused pneumonia and even reports of death among children affected by the Pakistan quake.

According to reports from Norwegian Church Aid, children in the earthquake-shaken areas of Pakistan are still wearing plastic sandals and summer clothes in 50 cm of snow.

“We have received the first reports of child deaths as a result of the cold and pneumonia here at the United Nations coordination centre in Islamabad,” said NCA aid coordinator for the Pakistan earthquake relief, Anne Angeltveit, in a Jan. 11 news release from the organisation. “I have seen children running around in plastic sandals in the snow.”

NCA also reported that on Jan. 6 three small children died in a tent fire. Tent fires are common because the tents are not usually adequately insulated for harsh winter conditions and so many quake families light fires and candles inside their tents to keep warm.

In addition, many tents have even collapsed due to the weight of snow on the roof or because tent pegs lose their anchoring in the mud.

Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS) – which along with NCA is a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International – is also working in Pakistan to reach the three million left homeless by the quake.

We have received the first reports of child deaths as a result of the cold and pneumonia here at the United Nations coordination centre in Islamabad.

Anne Angeltveit, NCA Aid Coordinator in Pakistan

“As the winter comes in, the situation has gotten grim,” said Marvin Parvez, director of CWS-Pakistan/Afghanistan, while also speaking about the challenges in reaching survivors in mountain villages.

“Assessment and monitoring teams in the affected areas – especially in remote areas – were noticing that children had no hats, shoes, or socks for their heads and feet – two of the most vulnerable areas of the body,” said Parvez, according to ACT.

CWS, whose major concern has been shelter, has distributed 19,000 tents and 6,130 sheets in the past three months.

Moreover, Norwegian Church Aid has distributed 46,000 warm wool jumpers and tens of thousands of woolen blankets to earthquake survivors.

”A pair of woolly socks costs five Norwegian Crowns and a good winter coat no more than fifty Crowns. Good quality tents, woolen blankets and warm clothes can now mean the difference between life and death for many, many people. Such comparatively small amounts of money can save the lives of so many who are slowly freezing to death,” said Angeltveit.

For more information visit: english.nca.no/

Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent

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