09 October 2005

ActionAid has dispatched two three-member teams to Uri and Gurez in Kashmir (India) and Azad Kashmir and the Mansehra region (Pakistan) to assess the situation and determine the immediate needs of earthquake-affected people. More than 20,000 people are feared dead in Pakistan and over 500 in the Indian side of Kashmir. Over 40,000 are injured and thousands more are trapped in the rubble.

ActionAid Pakistan is mobilising its resources to meet the urgent needs of those affected, such as shelter, food, healthcare, water and sanitation. "We are committed to providing humanitarian aid for the earthquake affectees. We will mobilise all possible resources to meet the urgent needs of the affected people across the country," said Dr Rubina Saigol, director of ActionAid Pakistan. ActionAid is in contact with relief agencies to move forward and help people in this time of difficulty. The assessment team will return shortly and we will then begin our relief efforts.

Meanwhile, four teams comprising staff and volunteers are providing medical assistance in hospitals in Uri, Baramullah and other locations on the Indian side of Kashmir. More team members are expected to join shortly. In both India and Pakistan, ActionAid is focusing on providing housing and shelter, supporting people with physical disabilities and providing psycho-social care to help people cope with the trauma.

Dr. Unnikrishnan PV, Emergencies and Human Security Advisor of ActionAid said: "There has been widespread damage to houses and shelters. With winter and extreme weather just weeks away, providing people with shelter will be a big challenge.

"Our engagement in recent earthquakes in the region – such as Gujarat (India) and Bam (Iran) – shows that it is extremely important to address physical disability and psycho social problems, such as trauma. These two needs must find a place in the relief agenda from the beginning."

ActionAid is making extra efforts to carefully assess these three priorities of housing and shelter, physical disability and psycho social care, along with other core concerns.