Situation
On the 8th October 2005, an earthquake
of magnitude 7.6 on the Richter Scale
hit Pakistan. More than 80,000 people
died instantly when flimsy buildings on
hillside villages collapsed under the
pressure of the earthquake. From the epicentre
near Balakot, nearby Muzaffarabad (capital
of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir) and hundreds
of small villages were totally destroyed.
The devastation left many children orphaned,
old people isolated, and many terrible
injuries requiring amputation and surgery.
Response
The HF local team in Pakistan based out
of Islamabad was immediately able to assess
the damage and see the state of the refugees.
Medical Camps were established with teams
of doctors flown in to attend to the injured
that were coming in from the outlying
villages. Logistics was a major challenge
as the vehicles and roads are not in a
great state, and there were after-shocks
for several weeks after the main earthquake.
A Tent City was established to provide
secure temporary shelter for many families
to last out the winter months.
Outcome
|
Victims
helped |
>
60,000 |
| Material
delivered |
> £1,800,000 of supplies |
| Meals
served |
356,400 |
Medical
Consultations |
>
75,000 |
Mandays
of effort |
>
48,119 |
Value
of Aid |
£5,000,000+ |
| Project
Duration |
9
months+ |
HF collaborated with the United Nations,
WHO, WFP, Pakistan Army and the Red Cross/
Red Crescent. The Medical Camp in Islamabad
catered for over 810 people for six months
until the spring of 2006.
Field Camps were also established in
Bagh and Muzaffarabad and were able to
help refugees either at the two base camps
or using our mobile teams. Over 50 HF
doctors provided 24x7 cover.
At the tent city, our team also went
to great lengths to add lighting, a park
and rides for the children, and to focus
on education and training. We even managed
to organise a wedding among the refugees!!
Our Team is monitoring the rehabilitation
of people into their new lives. In the
next Phase, HF are establishing a Neurosurgery
Operating theatre in Al-Abbas Hospital
in Muzaffarabad, and planning schools
reconstruction.
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(Disaster Relief)
