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Save the Children Appeals for More Government Help to Avoid 'A Catastrophe to Children of Unimaginable Proportions'
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Approximately 3 million people are without shelter after the deadly earthquake. Save the Children is working to deliver tents, blankets and other basic supplies to children and families in impacted areas. |
Save the Children is calling on the United States government to mobilize more international support to avoid “a catastrophe to children of unimaginable proportions” now unfolding in the frigid mountainous regions of northern Pakistan struck by an earthquake two weeks ago.
“Tens of thousands of children who managed to survive one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern times may soon freeze to death or die from their injuries unless help comes soon,” said Charles MacCormack, President and CEO of Save the Children, based in Westport, CT.
“Every American cares deeply about the fate of these children, and we should all be proud that the United States responded very promptly to this tragedy, but much more still needs to be done to save the lives of thousands of surviving children and their families,” he said.
Officials report at least 50,000 confirmed deaths from the earthquake, with the death toll expected to rise even higher in coming weeks.
“We need to move now to avoid a second wave of death from this disaster that could claim tens of thousands of more lives,” MacCormack said.
“The immediate priority is getting access to the most remote areas and providing survivors blankets and shelter,.” MacCormack said. “There is a window of opportunity open for the next few weeks, before heavy winter sets in, to work with communities and work creatively to provide shelter for the approximately 3 million people now living outside.”
MacCormack joined leaders of other international aid organizations in urging governments to provide more military tents and blankets and more helicopters to distribute to the most remote areas of northern Pakistan.
Meanwhile, scores of Save the Children aid workers continue to provide thousands of blankets, tents, and articles of clothing as well as food, water, health care and other essentials to thousands of children and families who survived the earthquake in northern Pakistan and India. Save the Children is about to launch a food program expected to reach as many as 187,000 people affected by the earthquake.
In Batagram, located in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, Save the Children has played a leading role in coordinating operations at a tented hospital with more than 100 beds set up to replace a hospital destroyed by the earthquake. Since the disaster, health workers have seen nearly 21,000 patients and doctors have performed more than 7,000 minor and major surgeries. Besides Batagram, Save the Children is working in 23 other districts around the country, including districts in neighboring areas.
Save the Children has sent a health team north to Bana, in the remote Alai Valley, to re-establish health services and outreach.
“Bana Alai is completely cut off,” said Bruce Rasmussen, Save the Children’s Field Office Director in Pakistan. “A road that had been repaired after the major earthquake was subsequently destroyed in the aftershocks that continue to rattle the region. We are sending the team and supplies in by helicopter,” he said.
To assist children who survived the earthquake, Save the Children is setting up supervised safe play areas where children can engage in organized games and other activities to inject some sense of normalcy into their lives. Save the Children plans to set up as many as 50 safe play areas with each area serving about 100 children. Donate to support our South Asia Children's Earthquake Fund
