Press Room > Oxfam Ireland Press Release

Oxfam Ireland has today launched an emergency appeal to help the people affected by the Asian earthquake.

Kashmiri rescue workers gather at the site of a collapsed building in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir October 10, 2005. Credit: Reuters/Mian Khursheed courtesy www.alertnet.org

"Hundreds of thousands of people will be affected and will need help urgently. Worst affected is Kashmir, but the quake has also hit north India and Afghanistan. Oxfam has worked in the region since 1973 and we have a network of people already on the ground. Yesterday, we co-ordinated a meeting in Islamabad of all of the international aid agencies responding to the earthquake" said Dr. Brian Scott, Oxfam Ireland's Chief Executive.

In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, 5 out of 7 divisions are severely affected and Oxfam has already started an assessment in 3 of these 5 areas . In Indian-administered Kashmir, the death toll is also mounting and Oxfam is sending an assessment mission to the area as soon as possible.

" Following our initial assessments, Oxfam is gearing up to supply emergency aid to approximately 300,000 people in some of the areas worst affected by the earthquake," says Shaista Aziz, an Oxfam aid worker in Islamabad.

"We are already sourcing 60,000 tents and 300,000 blankets, jerry cans and basic hygiene kits for the survivors of the earthquake in Pakistan administered Kashmir and the North West of the country. Communications systems have collapsed in parts of the country and roads have been severely damaged by the disaster. Oxfam assessment teams are continuing to gather information from these areas to be able to determine the full needs of people affected."


Oxfam Ireland is accepting donations via our shops throughout the country, online at www.oxfamireland.org or
lo-call 1890 60 60 65 (Republic of Ireland) and 0845 303 0337 (Northern Ireland)