Earthquake 2005: Impacts and Strategies

Introduction

Natural disasters pose a considerable threat to the economic and social structure in the developing countries. Natural disasters destroy decades of human efforts and investments and thereby place new demands on society for reconstruction and rehabilitation. On October 8, 2005, some parts of the NWFP (North West Frontier Province) and Punjab province of Pakistan and AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) were struck by the most devastating earthquake in recent history of the region. The earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale had its epicenter in district Muzaffarabad, AJK. Although it was strongly felt over a vast area, the most significantly affected areas were in NWFP and AJK. The earthquake affected a vast area of land stretching from the bordering areas of Afghanistan on the west, to parts of Indian Kashmir in the east. The affected area consists of nine districts: Batagram, Mansehra, Shangla, Muzzafarabad, Neelam, Abbotabad, Poonch and Kohistan in the NWFP and Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Poonch in AJK with a total population of 5.5 million people. The colossal damage caused by the earthquake was exacerbated by aftershocks - which continued till the end of November 2005 and heavy landslides which carried parts of roads and dwellings built on the picturesque slopes.

In the affected areas, the vast majority of the population (88 percent or 4.8 million people) lives in rural areas, 9 percent in major urban centers and 4 percent in semi-urban areas. The affected area is poor, and households rely mostly on agriculture and livestock, small-scale commerce, and remittances to earn a living. The earthquake caused extensive loss of life and physical damage. The Pakistani government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350, although it is estimated that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Approximately 38,000 were injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless. According to government figures, 19,000 children died in the earthquake, most of them in widespread collapses of school buildings. The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter. Immediate efforts focused on rescue operations and the humanitarian needs of survivors.

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