A terrible situation is getting†even worse in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. On October 8, a deadly earthquake tore through these three countries. The quake destroyed entire villages and killed more than 73,000 people in northern Pakistan, which was hit the hardest. The quake also left more than 3.3 million individuals homeless. One month later, 800,000 people are still struggling to survive without any shelter at all.
The situation is a desperate one for those waiting for help. Many who were injured in the earthquake have not yet received medical attention. Survivors are now getting sick from unsanitary living conditions and lack of food.
Winter weather is moving into the area. Frigid temperatures and heavy snowfalls will soon complicate relief efforts by making it even harder to reach remote mountain villages. Near-freezing temperatures are already creating deadly conditions. In Balakot, Paki-stan, three families crowd together in one tent, struggling to stay warm. "I don't sleep," says Fazil Deen. "It's cold for adults, and it's even worse for children." Many families don't even have a tent to sleep in. They huddle around fires for warmth. The United Nations warns that thousands more could die if aid doesn't come quickly.
Scattered Survivors
Many of the affected areas are isolated. Landslides have blocked roads,
and there are not enough helicopters to fly in supplies. The U.N. World
Food Programme is using pack mules as an alternative. A team of 48 mules
is transporting supplies to villages that can't be reached in any other
way.
The worst damage occurred in Kashmir, an area controlled by both India and Pakistan. The countries have fought two wars over the troubled region. Al- though there are still outbreaks of violence, India and Pakistan have agreed to help each other during the emergency. Last week, military officials opened borders in the heavily guarded region to speed delivery of relief supplies. Now, the world must help with the critical task of trying to save lives.