Emergency Appeal for Balochistan

On 29th October 2008 an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit southwest Pakistan, 45 miles north of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. Many people were believed to be buried under rubble and at least 18 aftershocks rattled the nerves of survivors.

Described as one of the poorest provinces in the world by UN agencies, Balochistan has seen more than its fair share of catastrophes: floods, droughts, the war in Afghanistan leading to the influx of thousands of refugees and the global food crisis have left an already impoverished area in a dire state.

"Eight villages in Ziarat have been badly affected and there are still many areas which have not yet been reached." said Zamrak Khan. As in the 2005 earthquake, where the death toll reached over 70,000, reports arriving from hard to reach areas will mean that the figures will continue to rise over the coming few days.

'Roads are blocked and many of the mud houses have collapsed. People here are desperate and even those whose homes survived do not want to return to them due to the fear of after shocks. This earthquake was only one point lesser in magnitude than the 2005 Kashmir quake. People are fearful and cold, in one village alone 80 people died and thousands have been made homeless with winter drawing in. We've mobilised our network of volunteers from all around Pakistan and are delivering emergency items of tents, blankets, stoves, medicines and cooked food to the victims, but we need a lot more support, quickly' Dr Hamza Mustafai, ATI Asia Region Manager