Aid Organisations Issue Final Warning as Thousands Set to Die in Pakistan

|PIC1|Six of the largest international aid organisations have urged for more funding to be given urgently to avert a second wave of deaths in Pakistan following the earthquake in early October.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan is currently attending the International Donors conference in Islamabad, and as time runs out for so many caught in Pakistan’s freezing cold winter World Vision has announced that it is joining five of the largest international humanitarian aid organisations operating in the region.

The Pakistan relief effort has continued to issue its emergency appeal for increased funds so that thousands can be saved in Kashmir and the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP).

The International Rescue Committee, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), World Vision, Save the Children, CARE International in Pakistan, and Mercy Corps have called for members of the Conference to focus and not neglect the immediate needs of this region, even though a longer-term strategic focus has been scheduled for the conference.

The aid agencies warned that as the winter arrives, a second deadly wave of casualties is likely to be brought about if nothing drastic is done to help the region.

|PIC2|Chris McDonald, World Vision’s emergency officer said, “The international community must take action immediately to save the lives of 160,000 people still living above the snow line in remote mountain villages. We are short of money and emergency supplies. This is a situation that can be turned around but the world must respond now.”

Certain parts of Kashmir and the NWFP have already experienced the first snows of winter, and World Vision declare that the “window for responding to the crisis is closing rapidly.”

A huge hole is the amount of funding required for relief has been the major problem for aid workers, and thousands are being left without any significant shelter to survive the winter.

A long-term recovery strategy has been quickly put in place in the region by the government in Pakistan and the donor communities, however humanitarian aid workers are urging for greater assistance to arrive.

Sigurd Hanson, the World Vision Country Director for Pakistan said, “Tremendous progress has been made in the disaster response, but more – much more – is needed. We support the process for the donors’ conference, but implore the attendees to also focus on immediate, life-saving needs. The emergency phase is not over.”

At the time becomes more and more urgent, shelter has continued to be the most critical ingredient missing to save thousands. The Pakistani government has been working in conjunction with aid agencies to provide materials and technical support to build “warm rooms”.

|QUOTE|Jack Norman, a CRS Country Representative for Pakistan said, “More funding is needed immediately to provide basic shelter for tens of thousands of people facing the prospect of a harsh winter without adequate shelter. If the response from the international community is too little or too late, we’ll be witnessing a second tragedy.”

Already exposure to the extreme elements has caused increasing medical concerns, especially concerning the number of acute respiratory infection cases.

Water and sanitation have also been other major concerns, with thousands of reports filtering in about diarrhoea, gastritis, scabies and communicable diseases.

|AD|More than 2.2 million children were affected by the quake, and child protection issues have been particularly critical. A majority of children in the area are without access to support systems such as schools, counselling and many have lost their families and parents.

Bruce Rassmusen of Save the Children said, “Without help, these children – who were vulnerable before the earthquake – face catastrophe. In addition to addressing critical shelter and health concerns, support needs to be provided for vulnerable children who have been separated from their families. More schools and child-friendly spaces need to be opened to ensure children have safe spaces to play, to learn and to regain a sense of normalcy and begin the process of recovery.”

Combined, the six international aid organisations have more than 585 staff members working directly on the emergency response, and it is hoped that this will form the foundation for carrying out emergency relief operations.

Alan Manski, Emergency Response Coordinator of IRC said, “The recovery of areas affected by the earthquake depends heavily on a commitment from the international community to provide urgently needed funding to support life saving activities in the short term, and support to the rehabilitation process in the long term. If further loss of life is to be avoided, the international community must react immediately to the needs on the ground.”

World Vision conclude with the message: “A second disaster is now set to unfold. How many die this time is up to us.”