New York: UN agencies are stepping up efforts to assist thousands of people displaced by the deadly earthquake that struck Pakistan's Balochistan province and address immediate needs including access to food and water, health services and shelter.
At least 300 people are believed to have died and hundreds more injured in the 6.4 magnitude quake, whose epicentre was located in a mountainous area northeast of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
The number of casualties is expected to rise as several people were missing and feared buried under the rubble.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is sending two truckloads of essential medicines and supplies for 50,000 people for three months to the most-affected districts of Ziarat and Pishin.
The agency is also flying trauma supplies stored at the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai to treat 400 people into the region.
The two affected areas remain accessible for convoys carrying relief supplies and the rural health centre in Kawas in Ziarat is functioning as the referral hospital.
In addition to food, water and essential health services, WHO is also concerned about low immunisation coverage in the region, especially for measles and tetanus. The agency and its UN partners are carrying out field assessments in the affected area to obtain a clearer picture of the health needs.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) was planning to provide 700 tons of dry food rations, including wheat flour, pulses, oil and salt for two months, to the affected people.
"We need to move fast, so we are going to start distributing food stocks from our warehouses in Quetta and Peshawar, so we can reach the people who need it most," said WFP Pakistan Country Director, Wolfgang Herbinger.
