ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) warned on Tuesday that the children in the earthquake-hit areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan were facing further deadly threats as extreme conditions had cut off some communities from receiving aid.

Around 200 people died, including 12 school girls, and around 1,000 were injured following Monday’s earthquake – with half of those affected thought to be children, Unicef statement said.

Earthquake had added to the miseries of people in remote mountainous areas where heavy rain and snow was already playing havoc. Poor communication and difficult access due to tough terrain and security operations were adding to the problems.

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“We are extremely concerned for the safety and wellbeing of children, who are already at risk in any disaster and are now in danger of succumbing to the elements as temperatures plummet,” says Karin Hulshof, Unicef Regional Director for South Asia.

Some of the areas hit by the quake are completely inaccessible, while much of the affected region is difficult to reach even in ordinary circumstances, Unicef said.

Unicef Afghanistan and Pakistan are working with their governments and are prepared to deliver life-saving supplies to tens of thousands of affected children and their families.

Unicef had warned that health, nutrition, hygiene and education services would now be under exceptional stress, placing more children at risk.

Affected districts in Pakistan, where most of the first casualty and eyewitness reports have emerged, include Peshawar, Shangla, Dir, Besham, Chitral, Swat, Charsada, Mardan, Swabi, Hangu, Mansehra, Buner, Bajaur Agency and Diamer.

Meanwhile, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Pakistan had announced the availability of emergency shelters, non-food relief items (NFIs) and financial resources pre-programmed for an initial response, subject to the needs of the affected population. The government had already requested winterised NFI kits for 500 families in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, and field teams are travelling to further assess needs in that area.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2015

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