UNICEF ready to respond to 7.2 Pakistan earthquake

UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release

UNICEF ready to respond to 7.2 Pakistan earthquake

Wellington, 19 January 2011. – UNICEF is standing by to respond to humanitarian needs following a 7.2 earthquake that struck south-west Pakistan early this morning.

The quake is reported to have been centred in a mountainous region of Baluchistan province, close to the Afghanistan border. The province as a whole has a population of about 6.5 million. The quake was felt widely in the region.

UNICEF has a field office in Baluchistan at Quetta with staff on the ground monitoring the situation closely. UNICEF will work with the Pakistan Government and other humanitarian agencies to assess the immediate needs of children and their families affected by the quake. Pre-positioned emergency supplies will be provided as needed.

UNICEF NZ Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay, says that Pakistan is still recovering from last year’s monsoon floods that ravaged one fifth of the country and affected more than 20 million people, up to half of them children.

“This was the worst flooding in the country’s history and the population are still trying to get back to normality. Some 10,000 schools and rural health centres were damaged by the floods and important infrastructure was destroyed or badly damaged, including water and sanitation systems, bridges and roads,” says Mr McKinlay.

“UNICEF has taken a leading role in the emergency response, providing clean water to an unprecedented 2.8 million people daily, and sanitation facilities to more than 1.5 million people. Working with partners, more than nine million children have been immunised against measles and polio.

“Pakistan does not need another disaster on top of what it has already been through and it is vulnerable children who are most at risk, especially amidst cold winter temperatures.”

Mr McKinlay says that some 26,000 people still remain displaced in Baluchistan, living in 40 camps around the province. UNICEF is continuing to provide emergency relief in response to the floods in Baluchistan, such as clean drinking water and vaccinations, along with support for health, nutrition, education and child protection.

“We will know more about what additional help is needed as the full scale of the earthquake impact unfolds. In the meantime, New Zealanders can support UNICEF’s work in emergencies by donating to our UNICEF NZ Emergency Fund, more information www.unicef.org.nz/EmergencyFund

ENDS

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