Pakistan Earthquake Homeless Face Winter Crisis

Church World Service (CWS) has warned that as many as 400,000 people in northern Pakistan and Kashmir are still without permanent shelter following last year's massive earthquake and now face a major health crisis in the onslaught of a predicted early and harsh winter.

Some 80,000 people were killed in the devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit exactly one year ago last Sunday. Not only do hundreds of thousands remain without permanent shelter, recent monsoons have caused flash floods and landslides have killed at least 400 people and forced many already displaced by last year's quake to relocate again.

CWS ground workers are already helping out and have provided plastic sheeting, blankets, tents and food packages to affected families. A further 1,000 people have been moved to camps in the earthquake-affected zone following the floods and landslides.

The US also started fresh shipments of relief goods into Islamabad.

CWS Emergency Programme Director Donna Derr says that, while the Pakistan quake emergency response is "fairly well funded overall, health funding is falling far behind."