Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

As heavy snow and rain fall in areas of Pakistan impacted by last October's earthquake, Episcopal Relief and Development continues its support aiding communities most affected by the deadly earthquake. Nearly 80,000 people were killed and approximately 3.5 million people, 85% of who are from rural communities, have become homeless. It destroyed over 203,000 dwellings and almost 300,000 are uninhabitable due to damage. An estimated 400,000 people are now believed to be aid-dependent in the highland zone.

ERD is working with dioceses in the Church of Pakistan to provide relief supplies, shelter materials, and medical care to underserved and isolated areas.

Peshawar

In Peshawar, ERD's partnership with the Diocese of Peshawar is supporting a field office and static basic health unit in an army tent camp near Bala Kot which is serving approximately 2,400 persons. ERD's support is providing transportation for mobile relief units into upper regions of the mountains and a vehicle that will be converted into an ambulance. Two mobile units have visited approximately 36 villages, serving almost 6,000 people, in outlying mountain areas. The long-term rehabilitation plan will focus on the areas located in the mountains near Ghari Habib Ullah. Through ERD's partnership, an emergency shelter will be constructed in 20 villages that can be dissembled and relocated as necessary. ERD is developing a long-term plan to transition emergency health facilities into community-based health services. The program will train select community members as health workers and provide services including resources for improving women's health.

'While modest in terms of the overall needs of the earthquake victims, the ministry of the Church in these areas is notable,' said Kirsten Laursen, ERD's Senior Program Director of Asia and New Initiatives. 'The Church has managed medical institutions in Pakistan for more than 100 years, and ERD and the Church are committed to working with affected communities over many years,' said Laursen.

Azad Kashmir

In Azad Kashmir, ERD's partner, Diocese of Sialkot, is providing medical care through a static unit in Ghaziabad, Bagh District, where more than 100 patients seek care and treatment each day. The unit is staffed by one doctor, two nurses, and a health worker who live at the site. Since the earthquake, the diocese has given medical treatment to 3,500 people and treated wounds of another 1,200 patients. Over 150 patients were transported to base camps for major and minor surgeries, 10 babies were deliveries, and 100 families received steel sheets for constructing sturdier shelters. ERD's support is providing a stronger, heated unit as well as improved housing for medical and assessment teams, medicines, clothing and blankets, and steel sheeting for housing. The partnership is also providing transportation for monitoring the work at the unit in Ghaziabad and mobile units.

To help people affected by the earthquake in Pakistan, donate to the Pakistan Fund at
http://www.er-d.org/

or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief and Development, Pakistan Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101.