Residents in Pakistan’s eastern Balochistan province suffer aftershocks and nights in freezing temperatures following Wednesday’s earthquake that killed at least 236.
The shallow 6.4 quake on Wednesday left over 4000 people injured and 50,000 homeless. Aid workers believe the number of dead, injured and homeless could rise as more bodies are dug out of the rubble.
Northwestern Balochistan was worst hit, with seven to eight villages in the district of Ziarat levelled. Burials in mass graves have taken place in the area.
The scale of the destruction is impeding immediate relief work and preventing teams reaching affected areas.
Thousands are spending sub-zero nights in the open.
Christian World Service is accepting donations for the Pakistan/Afghanistan branch of Church World Service, which has 40 volunteers collecting information about affected areas. Church World Service has so far distributed 1000 tents, 4000 blankets and 4000 hygiene kits along with warm clothes and has distributed food packages for at least 100 families.
Shallow aftershocks are expected to last at least a week. On Wednesday evening, a 6.2 magnitude quake caused more damage in already badly affected areas.
Church World Service says that as well as more winter tents, food, warm clothes, blankets and stoves, there is a need for more burial shrouds. Church World Service has joined local government and national and international organisations to plan relief work.
Witnesses say many homes were destroyed by boulders tumbling down mountains as a result of the quake and the aftershocks.