Balochistan Quake survivors need food, shelter, says UN report

KARACHI: An independent report prepared by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has said that lack of food security and proper shelter remain the most challenging aspect of relief work in the earthquake-hit areas of Awaran and Kech districts in Balochistan.  Two powerful earthquakes struck parts of the province last month. The combined death toll of the earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.8 on the Richter scale is 386 while 816 people, including children, were injured, according to figures released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The UN OCHA report shows findings of a rapid assessment, based on key informants, conducted by 11 non-governmental organisations across 296 villages in Awaran and Kech. The findings indicate that the earthquakes have affected at least 27,400 households, or 138,372 people, and damaged or destroyed 19,688 houses in the assessed areas.  http://dawn.com/news/1051143