Irish Red Cross delivers more aid to Pakistan Earthquake victims one year on

More than €2 million was raised in Ireland by the Red Cross to help fund their relief operation on the ground, where more than 73,000 people were killed and 3.5 million were made homeless. This money was used to pay for vital supplies and services in the stricken region.

Blankets, tents, temporary housing materials, clean water and sanitation facilities, soap and other personal hygiene items were paid for by the Irish Red Cross which also deployed three of its most experienced Delegates to oversee the airlift operation - Willie Norton and John Rowland of Dublin and Gary Buchanan of County Down

Speaking today in the run-up to the one-year anniversary of the disaster, the Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross Carmel Dunne said that she was amazed at the response of Irish donors, as the Pakistan earthquake had been preceded by other high-profile emergencies, such as Hurricane Katrina in September, and the Indian Ocean tsunami at the outset of the year.

“The Pakistan earthquake was a huge disaster by any yardstick, yet coming as it did in the context of other disasters in 2005, we were pleased to get the support of people in Ireland to mount what was a very challenging aid delivery operation because of the mountainous terrain and dangerous flying conditions,” Ms Dunne said.

Yet even today, just under half a million people are facing the winter without permanent shelter, according to UN estimates. The Irish Red Cross is continuing to work in partnership with several other Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations, including the Pakistan Red Crescent to help these people.

Already, over a million people have got emergency relief from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, but in addition to this work is also underway on rebuilding the future for the people affected; people are being supported in getting back to work on the land, through the provision of farming tools and seeds, while access to health services – especially for women – has been improved through the provision of mobile health clinics and the deployment of women health workers.

Background information