Oct 8 South Asia Earthquake Response

Magnitude Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale earthquake hit amd destroyed much of Pakistan, Kashmir, and Northern India in the early hours of Thursday 8 October, while people slept.   According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the quake started at 8:50 a.m. local time.   The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad.  It is estimated that this earthquake killed more than 60,000 people.

The Salvation Army earthquake relief team in Pakistan arrived in the town of Abbotabad in northern Pakistan and started distributing relief aid to survivors.  The team brought two trucks filled with tents, blankets, family packs, which include a week’s supply of dry rations for a family of two adults and eight children, plates, glasses, cooking utensils and water, as well as additional relief supplies for the region.  With temperatures are dropping, aid distribution is painfully slow, aftershocks reaching up to 5.6 on the Richter scale are still destroying what little infrastructure was left,

Donate to the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund.

this will link directly to The Salvation Army's website

Note: TSA will be the sole beneficiary of your donation.

After their arrival, the team was briefed on the crisis in the area by a local representative. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that The Salvation Army will establish a relief camp in the Balakot area which has received little emergency relief aid. The Salvation Army will provide shelter, blankets, cooking equipment and food for those in the camp for at least three to four months or until the rehabilitation and reconstruction will begin in the area.

The Salvation Army earthquake relief team based in Abbotabad, Pakistan, is working in partnership with the military authorities to provide a tented camp in the Balakot area, giving immediate shelter, blankets, cooking equipment and food to families in desperate need.  It has been decided that all Salvation Army relief work in the foreseeable future will be in conjunction with the military in the Balakot region. They have already surveyed the most badly-affected areas and already know who the neediest people are. The people receiving tents and other essentials will need ongoing assistance and aid for many months and can easily be followed up through the military network.