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Concerns quake toll may reach 40,000

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 October 2005, 11:48 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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