Concerns quake toll may reach 40,000

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations appealed on Tuesday
for $272 million for quake survivors in northern Pakistan
where, aid officials said, the death toll could hit 40,000,
exceeding that in the Iranian city of Bam two years ago.

The U.N. inter-agency appeal aims to cover relief needs in
the devastated Kashmir region — including winterized tents,
food, blankets, medicines, water purification equipment — as
well as reconstruction of some schools and health facilities.

“The appeal is to cover the immediate life-saving and early
recovery needs for only the first six months of the emergency
phase,” Yvette Stevens, assistant U.N. emergency relief
coordinator, told a news conference to launch the flash appeal.

“In terms of reconstruction, we would expect that the needs
will be much, much greater,” she added.

The death toll in Saturday’s earthquake in northern
Pakistan and India stood at least 21,000 people, but officials
have said it could double as large parts of the region remain
inaccessible as landslides swept away roads.

Stevens put the death toll at “at least 30,000,” with four
million people affected, including one million in acute need.

“The search and rescue teams will complete their operations
tomorrow (Wednesday), giving more space for relief operations,”
she said.

Under the appeal, eight cargo helicopters are sought, in
addition to eight U.S. helicopters already deployed, to airlift
supplies to cut-off villages and evacuate wounded from them.

The United Nations and the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies — the world’s largest
disaster relief network — have deployed experts in logistics,
shelter, health, water and sanitation, and disaster relief
coordination.

“We fear that at least 40,000 people are dead. This means
it is worse than the Bam earthquake,” Sian Bowen, Federation
spokeswoman told an earlier briefing, echoing comments by
officials in Pakistani Kashmir and North-West Frontier
Province.

“We do fear the situation could get much worse,” she added.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the historic city of Bam,
some 1,000 km (600 miles) southeast of Tehran, on December 26,
2003 took nearly 31,000 lives.

EPIDEMICS FEARED

The World Health Organization expressed concern diseases
could break out among survivors in crowded conditions due to a
lack of clean water and safe sanitation. Many hospitals and
health centers had been flattened and medical staff killed.

“Diarrhoeal diseases — including cholera and dysentery —
area feared,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters.

Measles, which can be deadly for children, is endemic in
the region, where only 60 percent of children have been
vaccinated, according to the U.N. health agency. At least 90
percent coverage is needed to prevent a measles epidemic.

The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking $64.3 million
to cover water and sanitation, as well as educational needs.

UNICEF spokesman Damien Personnaz noted that half of the
region’s population was under age 16. “Without a doubt children
are the principal victims of this tragedy,” he said.

The World Food Program flew in high-energy biscuits for
240,000 people on Tuesday. Under the appeal, it is seeking $50
million to provide food to one million people for six months.