DISASTER CAUSED BY SATURDAY’S MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE

The Initial estimates of the October 9 earth quake death toll are in thousands, with the official sources citing a tentative figure of 20,000. Millions of people struck by the tragedy continued to live in awe the day after, as repeated aftershocks and the grim news that about 20,000 people had been counted dead, and 42,000 injured so far, reminded them that the danger was not over.

In capital Muzaffarabad, most houses, government buildings and shops had collapsed and frightened residents spent a chilly night camped in fields, parks, graveyards and cars. “About four million people have been affected by the quake. The loss in five Azad Kashmir districts and six northern districts of NWFP is huge. Seismographs in the country have registered 125 aftershocks — only a few of them perceptible — since the main quake hit the region at 8.52am on Saturday. Almost 70 per cent of the buildings in Muzaffarabad, capital of Azad Kashmir, have been destroyed or damaged, according to the local person in PIMS,

In children ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical and Science more than 200 hundred children were admitted and more than this are expected to come. The main reason of children’s injury was that they were attending schools and the massive earth quake came, as result roofs of school fell down on the children. Broken legs and arms were the major injuries among the children and some of children had head injured. We observed a child had 30 stitches in his head.

TREATMENT

• Rs. 5,000/ are per day treatment charges for a children in hospital. This rate is quoted by the hospital staff and is  for the extreme cases who need surgery.
• Our estimate is that in aprox $ 100 dollars per child medicines food and the one week stay and fare to go back can be managed.

• As they came here in an emergency and they were accompanied by their family members and they are facing problems like residence, food, cloths, etc.

• Traveling expenditure is required for those who have been discharged from the hospital after getting necessarily treatment.

• As the 70 – 80% of houses are completely destroyed which left millions of people homeless, they are now required some tent and basic needs of life specially drinking water.

• Till now PIMS has handled very well with the situation as the roads are partially opened, when they will be completely open, people will have easy access towards Islamabad and other major cities in that case more than 500 children are expected to come which will make the current smooth going situation a bit worse.

• Most of charitable organizations are completely helpless as they do not have enough resources to handle such a situation.