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Thousands of Children Homeless Due to Pakistan Earthquake
WESTPORT, Conn. (Oct. 29, 2008) — Save the Children staff members in Pakistan are moving quickly to assist children and families affected by an earthquake that struck today in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least 170 people and leaving 15,000 homeless.
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Children sit outside their homes as an earthquake jolts the city of Quetta, Pakistan. Oct. 29, 2008. REUTERS/Rizwan Saeed |
The impact area is a remote mountainous region of Pakistan, approximately 3 hours drive from Quetta, the nearest big city.
"Emergency response teams are en route to the site," said Ned Olney, in charge of emergency response operations for Save the Children US. "We recognize the need to provide assistance as quickly as possible as surviving children and families struggle to recover from this disaster."
Olney said that Save the Children works with children and schools in Afghan refugee camps within several hours of the earthquake site. He said initial reports were that all children in these camps were safe.
Background
Save the Children has worked in Pakistan since 1985 — first with Afghan refugees and, since 1999, directly with Pakistani children and women. We have a strong portfolio of health, education and microfinance programs. We continue to address needs of Afghan children and families who remain in Pakistan because of Afghanistan's insecurity and the lack of a viable economy in their communities. Save the Children also has been working in areas shattered by the 2005 earthquake to help residents build homes and "build back better" the health and education infrastructure.
