Pakistan
in: Crisis Wiki

Earthquake 10-29-08

Sign in to edit
Pakistan Crisis Wiki

This article is part of the
Pakistan Crisis Wiki
an effort to help with crisis management
and relief in Pakistan as part of the
Pakistan Crisis Commons

Can I Help?

You can!

This page and wiki are a community resource and, as such, not "owned" by anyone. For specific information, you can contact the founder/main volunteer/admin at iFaqeer@iFaqeer.com. The main volunteers on disaster relief issues at WikiPakistan also work on SA Relief.

Immediate Needs[]

relief tents

Information[]

Resources[]

Corporate Matching[]

Cisco Systems
Helping Hand has established fund to help victims for Baluchistan earthquake. Cisco will match employee donations.
Contact: Obaid Siddiqui (osiddiqu@cisco.com)

News and Updates[]

 Friday, Oct, 31, 2008 at 7:30 (US/Pacific)
 Conference Dial-in Number: (218) 339-4600
 Participant Access Code: 526814# 
 (for information email arafiq@siliconstani.com)

Background[]

Appeals/Efforts[]

relief tents

Note: To make immediate monetary donations, please see Hidaya, CARE, and others below, for other items, see index at #Immediate Needs above.

Grassroots Relief Effort[]

The situation is beginning to look grim. The Total death toll has hit 200, with about 15,000 people left homeless. The Government of Pakistan and Pakistan Military have mobilized search and rescue operations in the region. In addition several Non-Governmental Organization's such as IDSP have assessment teams in the affected areas interacting with other local groups.

Given that, the South Asian Disaster Relief effort (SA_RELIEF) has called for an emergency conference call to be held today, Wednesday, October 29th, at 5pm (US/Pacific) to discuss and execute upon a plan of action.

To join the call please use the following dial-in info:

Conference Dial-in Number: (218) 339-4600
Participant Access Code: 526814#

Please forward to anyone else who you think should be on the call.

To join the grassroots relief effort, subscribe to SA_RELIEF @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sa_relief/

Meeting Minutes: The first meeting was a tremendous success. We discussed how we need to double our information gathering efforts and coordination efforts. In the process ImPak has offered to provide volunteers to relief teams at ground zero.

Our next conference call is scheduled for Friday, October, 31 at 7:30 pm (US/Pacific). We'll use the same dial-in number as listed above.

For questions, contact: Siliconstani (http://siliconstani.blogspot.com)

IDSP Appeal[]

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:40:44 +0600
From: IDSP-Pakistan <idsp@idsp.org.pk>
To: undisclosed-recipients:  ;
Subject: Immediate Support Needed for Earthquake in Balochistan

Dear Friends

A powerful earthquake has hit Northern areas of Balochistan at 5:15 this morning. The reports are still coming from the devastated areas of Ziarat, Pishin and adjoining districts. The very initial estimates of deaths is around 200 and 10,000 people being displaced/ homeless. Due to restricted mobility and communication channels, God forbid the casualties could be higher!

The winter in Balochistan has set-in. The earthquake prone areas under extream cold weather and people need immediate support. IDSP's assessment teams have moved to the areas and we are constantly coordinating with other organizations which are active in the area.

The people desperately need tents, blankets, medicine, food, water & other necessities of daily life. Relief Operation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation will definitely take time & money.

Your contributions can make a lot of difference. Please come forward & help for the welfare of humanity. Our little help can reduce the miseries of these affected people.

Waiting for your support in-kind or cash!

Contact Person: Ghulam Rabani (Mobile +92-343-8000181)

Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari

IDSP-Pakistan
7-A Al Mashriq Street, Arbab Karam Khan Road Quetta, Pakistan
Ph#. +92-81-2471776, 2470243
Fax#. +92-81-2447285
mailto:idsp@idsp.org.pk
www.idsp.org.pk

Hidaya[]

Two hours before dawn on Wednesday Oct. 29, 2008 a strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Balochistan, the South-Western province of Pakistan, the surrounding areas of Ziarat being the worst hit.

Hidaya's team in Pakistan immediately contacted the local authorities, including the Judicial Magistrate of the area who explained that as of 1:30 PM (local time), 150 deaths have been confirmed. Ziarat, has a population of 32,000 to 40,000 people, of which over 15,000 have become homeless. The death toll continues to rise while the meager infrastructure of hospitals are having difficulty attending to the injured population.

Click here to read more about Hidaya's efforts.

Donate online via check or credit card by visiting the following link:

https://donation.hidaya.org/donation.aspx?projectId=65

Donate checks by mail payable to: Hidaya Foundation, P.O. Box 5481, Santa Clara, CA 95056

Sincerely,
relief tents Waseem Baloch Office: (408) 244-3282
Toll free: (866) 244-3292
E-mail: mail@hidaya.org

Hidaya Foundation is a US based non-profit 501(C)(3) charitable organization, with Tax ID # 77-0502583. Its mission is to implement charitable projects in economically depressed areas of the world.

http://www.hidaya.org/social-welfare/disaster-relief/pakistan-earthquake-2008.html

===CARE===relief tents

Donate Now! (CARE is a 501 (c) 3-exempt organization in the US)

CARE Responds to Deadly Pakistan Earthquake

QUETTA, Pakistan (October 29, 2008) - CARE's emergency team is on the ground in the devastated region of Baluchistan province, near the border of Afghanistan, where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake destroyed houses and killed a reported 500-600 people. The death toll from the quake is expected to rise throughout the day as rescuers recover more bodies from the rubble. "If the 2005 quake is anything to go by, we could see the death roll rise sharply as more information comes in from the remote areas," said Hasan Mazumdar, CARE's country director in Pakistan. "We have reports that two villages in Ziarat, near Quetta, lost 100 people each, and all houses were destroyed. And that's just two villages."

Immediate needs are food, shelter, emergency medical assistance to reach survivors in rural areas, and safe drinking water. CARE, which responded to the 2005 quake that killed more than 73,000 people, is shipping 100 winterized family tents to the affected area near the provincial capital of Quetta. As CARE and government and aid agencies work to determine the full extent of the damage, CARE is preparing to ship additional shelter and emergency supplies and dispatch a medical team to treat injured survivors.

"Shelter is the most critical need now. Winter has already started here. At night, it goes down to 5 C [41 F]. If we don't get shelter for the survivors, they will be sleeping under the open sky. This is a vast, poor area – it's not like the survivors can easily evacuate to a safe place," said Mazumdar.

Most of the damaged shelters are mud huts, that crumpled under the force of the earthquake. Landlines are cut off, and many roads are inaccessible to the more remote areas.

Click here for a map of the affected areas.

About CARE: CARE has been working in Pakistan since 2005.CARE works in some of the most remote and logistically challenging areas of Pakistan, implementing programs in health, education, water and sanitation, psychosocial, livelihoods and emergency response.

Media Contacts:

Geneva: Melanie Brooks, CARE, brooks@careinternational.org, +41.79.590.3047

http://www.care.org/newsroom/articles/2008/10/20081029_pakistan.asp?source=170740280000&channel=default

APPNA New England &
Relief International[]

Association of Pakistani Physician of New England (APPNE) based out of Boston is involved with Relief International and are collecting funds for 200 tents and 1000 blankets.

Cost per tent US$90 and cost per blanket is US$30. Please send your check to APPNE (a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization and an affiliate of APPNA that can accept and transfer large funds to Pakistan as we did in 2005)

Please mail check to:
1297 Central Ave.
Needhm,
MA. 02492.

On the ground we have Relief International that is a US based Relief Organization. relief tents
Sincere Regards,
Dr. Nadeem Afridi
nadeem6afridi@yahoo.com

NUCES Karachi[]

The Volunteers, The Oneness Project and the Street Kids of Pakistan's Effort[]

Subject: Earthquake - Balochistan

The Volunteers are collecting stuff for the survivors of the Earthquake - Balochistan- please send warm cloths, shoes, blankets, Torches with cells, water, medicine, tin food.. please drop the stuff of at 7/2, zulfiqar street 4 opposite Carlton Hotel, Karachi.

Details: Irum 300-2332142 Ozair 321-7272-369

Note: Truck to Balochistan will leave on Saturday Eve, so kindly drop of all donations before that.

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi[]

From: PMA Moderator <pmamoderator@yahoo.com>
Subject:
To: "kiran ejaz" <kiran_ejaz2010@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 8:10 AM

Pakistan Medical Association Karachi

PMA Karachi collecting Medicines and relife for Balochistan Earthquake. we want a Doctors Team for Balochistan Earthquake relife work. Please Donate yours Donations at PMA House Garden Road Karachi.

Office open 24 hrs

call to Mr Amir Peter 021-2251159 0300-2275831

Mailing list at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanmedicalassociation

Payaam Foundation Karachi[]

Payaam Foundation is requesting you for urgent relief Aid for victims of deadly Earthquake in Balochistan where hundreds are feared dead and thousands left homeless.

Severe cold temperature (–1 to –4 C night time) is making it difficult to continue with rescue and relief work. Many of those who survived were left with little more than the clothes they had slept in, and with winter approaching, temperatures were expected to drop to around freezing in coming nights.

The earthquake prone areas under extreme cold weather and people need immediate support. The people desperately need tents, blankets, warm clothes, medicine, dry food, milk, water & other necessities of daily life. Relief Operation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation will definitely take time & money.

Your contributions can make a lot of difference. Please come forward and help for the welfare of humanity. Our little help can reduce the miseries of these affected people. You are more than welcome to volunteer for this cause as well. Looking forward for your support in-kind or cash. Please donate generously !!! Please contact us 24/7 @ 93-300-8915037.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=45757633120

http://www.payaamfoundation.org/

Helping Hand USA[]

Helping Hand has established a fund to provide immediate relief to the victims.
An Earthquake of magnitude 6.5 has hit Balochistan province of Pakistan on October 28, 2008. Several people have died and wounded.

Donate online at

http://helpinghandonline.org/
NOTE: Donations to this organization by Cisco Systems employees are matched by the company. See #Corporate Matching above.

SPO[]

SPO has established a permanent Emergency Relief Fund in order to respond quickly and effectively in case of natural disasters and calamities. The Fund, which is created and maintained by staff and citizens' contribution, has been utilized during flash floods in Balochistan and Rawalpindi and for drought relief in Balochistan.

In the wake of recent Earthquake in Balochistan, you are requested to donate generously to this fund so that timely and much needed aid could be provided to the affected areas.

Donations to Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) are accepted at:

United Bank Limited

Jinnah Avenue Branch

Blue Area

Islamabad, Pakistan

Title of Account: SPO-Emergency Relief Fund

PKR Account: 101-5999-0

http://spopk.org/donation.html

Gov. of Pakistan Appeal[]

From: DCM, M.Aslam Khan <dcm@pakistan-embassy.org>

The Balochistan Province of Pakistan was hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake last week. Large areas in Pashin, Qila Band, Ziarat, Chaman, Kohlu, Sibbi, and Mustang have been affected severely resulting in a colossal loss of life and devastation of the physical infrastructure. The Government along with the civil society is responding to this crisis by providing shelter, medical care and distribution of food, blankets and other urgently needed supplies.

You are requested to donate generously to help the affected people who need your urgent support. An account has been opened with the National Bank of Pakistan, 1700 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. (Tel: No.202-462-7373) with the following details:

Title of the Account: National Disaster Management Fund Account
Routing Number: 026004721
Account Number: 1001003933

Preferably the donations should be made in cash. Aid in kind will also be acceptable but the same should be devoid of used and perishable items. Donors will make arrangements at their own, for the transportation of relief items to Pakistan, and then handing over the same to the National Disaster Management Authority for onward distribution amongst the earthquake affectees.

DAWN Earthquake Relief[]

Support [DAWN Earthquake Relief | http://dawn.com/events/earthquake_relief/abtdawn.htm]

Small yet focused:
DAWN Relief has so far set up four tent villages in Hattian Tehsil, with two located at higher altitudes, and is providing shelter, food, blankets, warm clothes and drinking water to about 6,500 men, women and children on a sustainable basis. Community kitchens, bathing and washroom facilities are in place and the water supply system is being rehabilitated.

A long winter:
Our priority is to ensure that the inhabitants of our Tent Villages survive the long winter. In addition to transient shelter, their basic subsistence requirements need to be provided. We are also working on the restoration of community-based activities, including a health facility, particularly focusing on immunisation and mother and child care, a community and vocational training centre as well as schools in every village.

Return to normality:
The vision is to rebuild the villages and their environs in terms of housing, civic amenities and utilities and see the return home of every member of the Tent Villages by developing an infrastructure that will restore their livelihood and sense of independence.

Why we need your support:
We are not a conventional relief agency with an existing pool of international donors to subsidise our activities. DAWN RELIEF was set up in extraordinary times to cope with extraordinary circumstances. We bring with us the credibility and transparency of decision-making associated with the DAWN Group of Newspapers. What experience we may, relatively speaking, lack in terms of relief expertise, we intend to make up for in the skilful and human application of sound principles of human resource and materials management, not to mention an unblemished integrity and focused vision.

News/Updates[]

For running updates, please see: http://www.sarelief.com

Dawn News Page[]

Geo News Page[]

NetExpress[]

P@SHA adds Earthquake Relief Drive to its flagship event[]


CHUP 10-29-08[]

SAJA 10/29/08[]

Beena Sarwar 10/29/08[]

--- On Wed, 10/29/08, Beena Sarwar <bsarwar1@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
From: Beena Sarwar <bsarwar1@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [beena] Balochistan quake survivors await relief
To: beena-issues@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 10:15 AM

In 2005, the nation came together on an unprecedented level to help people affected by the Kashmir earthquake. Here's the story I just did for IPS, unedited.

Balochistan quake survivors await relief

By Beena Sarwar

KARACHI, Oct 29: Poor infrastructure and communications are making it difficult for rescue and relief teams to scattered hamlets in the mountainous plateau area affected by the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan's south-western province of Balochistan bordering Iran at early morning on Oct. 29.

Relief efforts were thrown back by a second earthquake that struck the area barely 12 hours later at about 5 pm, followed by at least four significant aftershocks including one measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale.

Lt. Gen. (retd) Farooq Ahmed Khan, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that the situation had been brought under control when the second earthquake struck.

"We had managed to find most of the bodies and provide relief to most of the survivors, including hospitalization and first aid and tents and blankets. But because of the darkness as night fell soon after the second earthquake, it is hard to say what the situation is at this point," he said in a late-night television show, talking to Kamran Khan of Geo TV.

At least 200 people are believed to be dead so far, a number expected to rise as many remain trapped under collapsed houses in scattered hamlets, and survivors braving the bitter mountain cold out in the open in the fruit orchards where many have taken refuge.

The army has provided six C-130 airplanes to convey relief materials including tents, blankets, food and drinking water to the affected areas, and put two army field hospitals on standby, said the NDMA Chair.

The worst hit area is the idyllic hill resort of Ziarat near the earthquake's epicenter, some 70 km north-east of the provincial capital Quetta. Ziarat is accessible by a single road that has also been damaged by the earthquake but the over half dozen villages affected by the earthquake around Ziarat town are more difficult to reach.

Most of the houses in the area are reported to have collapsed, said to be the main cause of death in the area, said reporters reaching the area. They also say there is an urgent need for tents, blankets, food items and drinking water.

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province in terms of area, but its most sparsely populated and poorest in terms of development and social indicators, although rich in natural mineral resources, and natural gas. Most of the ten million or so inhabitants – a fraction of the country's estimated 160 million – of this rugged, water-scarce plateau region are tribal nomadic herders or fruit farmers.

Situated on a known fault line, the province is no stranger to such destruction. The devastation caused by the 1935 earthquake is part of legend now, when some 35,000 were killed in Quetta, wiping out half the city's population.

However, successive governments have done little to take precautionary measures or enforce safety regulations that would reduce earthquake casualties in the country.

The British who then ruled India introduced the Building Code Act of 1935, notes M. Ejaz Khan, a veteran reporter based in Quetta. The Act included the stipulation that no buildings in the earthquake-prone area would be higher than a single-storey.

"But many buildings in Quetta are four-storey high," Khan told IPS over the phone. "In Ziarat, there are mostly mud houses, but several government residences go up to two or three-storeys high."

The international community has stepped forward with expressions of condolence and offers of aid, including Britain, China, India and the European Union. Germany has already committed USD 3,15,000 as well as tents, blankets and other essentials.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has announced Rs 300,000 (around USD 3,600) compensation for each casualty and Rs 100,000 (around USD 1,200) for each injured survivor.

However, many families affected by the devastating earthquake in Kashmir in the north-west almost exactly three years ago have yet to receive the compensation promised then. Over 80,000 people were killed then, with about as many injured and maimed.

"Some claimants gave up and made the tough decision to migrate to other areas, while others took loans for reconstruction. Yet others, generally the poorest, unable to pursue any of these options, continue to live in tents or other makeshift arrangements, " according to `Three Years On, The Realities of People's Lives', a report released by the Omar Asghar Khan Foundation on Oct. 8, the third anniversary of the 2005 earthquake.

(ends)

Initial Reports[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.