Rescue operation continues following South Asia quake

British rescue teams joined with others from around the world as an international effort to search for survivors following the devastating South Asia earthquake at the weekend.

Nearly 20,000 people, including hundreds of children, are reported to have died in the quake, which shook Pakistan, north India and Afghanistan early on Saturday morning. However, over 40,000 people are believed to have been injured and it is feared that the death toll could double in what has been described as South Asia’s worst earthquake in a century.

Three British rescue teams from the International Rescue Corps are working to find survivors in Pakistan. The teams have been carrying out searches in Muzaffrabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, which was close to the epicentre of the 7.6 earthquake. The British rescue effort also includes teams from Rapid UK.

Willie McMartin, International Rescue Corps team leader, told reporters that the aftershocks of the quake had been “severe” and said that survivors had no basic shelter, blankets or tents and were also short of water. He said: “We have been told by the locals that anything up to 50% of 30,000 people in the area are actually dead and certainly the people are in the street – they won’t go into houses.”

The UK has committed nearly a million pounds of assistance to the relief effort so far and International Development Secretary Hilary Benn pledged that “a lot more” was still to come. The assistance includes 10,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 winterised family tents and 700 blankets, which will be distributed through Islamic Relief in the affected areas.

The Department for International Development also said that it would pay for the transport of goods to the affected regions, so that all money donated by the British public would be used for disaster relief rather than transportation costs.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, which represents 13 UK aid organisations, is meeting on Monday, in order to co-ordinate Britain’s response to the disaster and discuss plans to launch a joint appeal.

It was reported that nearly £3 million has already been pledged from several British charities, including Muslim Aid, Islamic Relief, Unicef and the British Red Cross. Oxfam said that £50,000 had been pledged within the first hour of its appeal alone.

Oxfam confirmed on Monday that its emergency response is "well underway" with a planned intial budget of £4 million.

Assessment teams in both the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of Kashmir have said that shelter and clean drinking water are urgent priorities.

Nick Roseveare, the charity's Humanitarian Director said: "As well as our work on shelter, we also have growing concerns over the water supply. Today we have taken the decision to fly out a team of water experts and engineers from around the world to help assess the water and sanitation situation and to help coordinate the international response in this area. Unless we get clean water to people there is a risk the death toll could mount further."

Relatives of those feared to have been affected by the earthquake are being provided with emergency visas by the Pakistan High Commission; in order to fly out to the devastated region to search for loved ones.

Both the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair have expressed their sympathy to Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf. The Queen said: “I was shocked to hear of the devastating earthquake which has caused such destruction and loss of life in Pakistan. I send my heartfelt sympathy to you and the people of Pakistan, especially to the bereaved, the injured and all who have been affected by this terrible disaster.”

Mr Blair said: “I was appalled to hear of the terrible destruction caused by yesterday's earthquake in Pakistan. I should like to pass on our condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy."

(KMcA/SP)