Pakistan: AmeriCares Medical Aid and Humanitarian Relief
Pakistan has a modern health care system with an average life expectancy of 64 years. However, child mortality rates reflect a deeper crisis in health care. Nearly one in ten children die before they reach their 5th birthday. Infant mortality rates are ten times higher than in the United States.
Compounding health problems in Pakistan are frequent earthquakes. In 2005, a catastrophic 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed 70,000 people and left more than 3 million homeless. A smaller quake in 2008 claimed the lives of hundreds and destroyed thousands of homes.
In addition to natural disasters and a struggling health care system, civil conflict with Taliban militants has caused a serious health crisis. Over three million innocent people fled fighting in the Swat Valley and throughout the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) last year. Thousands of displaced families crowded tent cities and refugee camps. To help vulnerable families, AmeriCares sent staff and emergency medical aid to help address the desperate health care needs of refugees in Pakistan. Read more »
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Emergency Aid and Disaster Relief
On October 8, 2005, an earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale struck northwestern Pakistan. More than 70,000 people were killed, an estimated 100,000 were injured and more than 3 million were left homeless.
AmeriCares responded with emergency relief and helped support the rebuilding of the health care system in the affected area. The Pakistan government honored AmeriCares with the Star of Sacrifice for our efficient and comprehensive relief efforts. Earthquake response included:
- Immediate Airlift: Within 72 hours of the earthquake, a plane carrying 3,000 pounds and $1 million of relief supplies.
- Medicines and Shelter: AmeriCares sent a second airlift carrying 110,000 pounds of medical assistance valued at more than $7 million and 1,200 winterized family tents to provide refuge for up to 6,000 people.
- Field Hospital: The earthquake destroyed one of the region's main health facilities, leaving residents without access to health care. That's why AmeriCares provided a fully-outfitted, temporary field hospital with an operating room, an emergency ward, a maternity unit, a laboratory, a radiology unit and a 15-bed patient ward.
- Vaccine Airlift: Children needed protection from meningitis and other infectious diseases in the earthquake-affected areas. Long-time AmeriCares donor Wyeth Pharmaceuticals generously vaccines valued at $28 million for relief efforts. AmeriCares undertook the significant logistics challenges and the vaccines arrived safely. More than 1 million vaccines were given to young survivors of the earthquake.
- Rebuilding Rural Health Clinics: AmeriCares rebuilt 20 rural health centers in northern Pakistan, where over half of the local health clinics were damaged or destroyed. Over 1 million people now have access to the quality medical services.
Read more about AmeriCares response to the tragic 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan »
Medical and Humanitarian Aid
Since 1982, AmeriCares has delivered nearly $47 million in assistance to Pakistan. AmeriCares has helped with relief supplies ranging from medicines, medical supplies, equipment, health care facilities and nutritional support. While most of AmeriCares support has focused on disaster relief and emergency aid, AmeriCares has maintained strong ties with many local aid groups and nonprofit organizations, as well as Pakistan's Ministry of Health.
Help AmeriCares save lives in the Pakistan and around the world »
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