Tremors’ affectees to exceed 4m: UN

ISLAMABAD—As relief work intensifies, the scale of the humanitarian crisis caused by the earthquake is becoming clearer. The number of people heavily impacted by the disaster could be as high as 1 million while the total affected population is expected to exceed 4 million.
The United Nations agencies continue to support search and rescue efforts in addition to providing relief items and fielding medical teams. The immediate humanitarian needs such as shelter, building materials, medical supplies, basic food items and winter clothing are enormous. The emerging public health needs include the establishment of disease surveillance and disease early warning systems.
The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan will shortly issue a Flash Appeal for the victims of the disaster, which will include details of the immediate relief and short term reconstruction needs in the earthquake-hit region. Relief and recovery efforts are expected to last over six months whilst the reconstruction process will take much longer.
Tens of thousands of schools, hospitals and homes have been destroyed across Azad Jammu Kashmir and NWFP. Mr. Jan Vandemoortele, UN Resident Coordinator said “The United Nations will fully support recovery efforts and is committed to providing assistance for the longer term rebuilding and development of the region”. He added “this would include meeting the huge shelter needs, repairing and replacing small infrastructure including schools, bridges, culverts, irrigations channels and farm to market linkroads”.

—Agencies