ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Unicef has shown its concern over the deteriorating health conditions of children in Dandai, Bisham, Shung, Miragai and other earthquake-affected areas of Shangla district and asked the government and NGOs to coordinate their efforts for providing healthcare and food to the traumatized children.

Unicef said that according to an assessment routine immunization coverage of children in the heart of the quake zone was 60 per cent, meaning that hundreds of thousands were unprotected against deadly diseases such as measles.

Measles is one of the greatest threats to child survival in emergency situations, especially when their immune systems have been weakened by exposure and malnutrition.

Majority of the people in different valleys of Shangla have no shelter.

The cold weather and rains have further multiplied their problems. About 80 per cent of the total 520,000 population of the district spend nights out of their houses under plastic sheets. This may lead to serious chest infections like pneumonia in children.

Briefing journalists here on Tuesday, Dr Abdul Jamil, project officer health and nutrition, Unicef Peshawar, said women and children were the main concern. “We are mobilizing our resources to supply medicines, high energy biscuits and blankets to the people of the affected areas.

Our teams are busy in relief work in Muzaffarabad, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram. We know that the government capacity is limited and the catastrophe is huge. That’s why we identify such networks that can ensure proper and on-time supply of relief goods to the affected masses,” he added.

The Unicef official said another serious problem was that of clean water.

The situation is very fragile as the water supply schemes in the affected areas have badly damaged.

Now the people are using spring water. If the situation is not handled with care it can lead to serious health problems like gastroenteritis.

“To ensure the supply of clean water to the people we are providing water purification tablets on emergency basis. Since day first, Unicef has emptied its warehouses in Peshawar and Karachi of blankets, high-protein biscuits, medical supplies, water purification tablets, water containers and shelter materials.

Further, prepacked emergency supplies are being flown from Unicef warehouses in Copenhagen and Dubai. Twelve flights are scheduled in the immediate future,” Dr Jamil said.

Efforts to create a safer environment for children are also under way with Unicef protection staff beginning work in the affected areas, setting in place measures to address the needs of children identified as alone or orphaned.

Dr Jamil said it was not possible for a single agency to bring visible changes. Both government and non-governmental organizations have to closely work together and coordinate for timely and comprehensive support.

“I hope that government will improve its coordination and leadership role, especially in Shangla, and will ensure that the relief services reached the affected population,” he said.

Tower death toll at 66: The death toll in the Margalla Tower collapse rose to 66 as four more bodies were recovered on Tuesday.

It may be mentioned that at least 16 persons are still reported missing.