MUZAFFARABAD, June 7: The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has formally launched a public campaign in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to look for people who have been missing since the last year’s earthquake.

ICRC officials Nancy Fournier, Rashad Akundov and James Reynolds said the campaign was aimed at finding 221 peoples, including 85 children, whose fate was not known.

Mr Akhundov said the ICRC and the PRCS would extend their search to areas where some survivors might have moved. He said a book and posters with names and, wherever possible, photographs of the missing people would be distributed in schools, hospitals, PRCS and ICRC offices and public places. He said electronic media’s help would also be sought to raise public awareness.

Mr Akhundov said that after the quake, more than 400 families had approached the ICRC and the PRCS for help in finding their missing relatives. So far, 179 cases had been resolved with 79 people found alive, he said, adding that it was heartening that the number of missing people was not as high as initially feared.

Earlier a walk was held under the aegis of the ICRC to highlight the issue.

The event was attended by a large number of people, including officials.