International Save the Children Alliance
Read the report on the International Save
the Children Alliance'sprogress, one year on
Pakistan Earthquake Response:
Educating and Protecting Children in Crisis [270 kb]
(Save the Children US, October 2006)
Read the report on Save the Children Swedens's
progress, one year on
Rising from the Rubble:
Communities lead the earthquake response [1.5 mb]
(Save the Children US, October 2006)
South Asia earthquake
Save the Children is still on the ground providing thousands of children and their families with life-saving assistance almost two years after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Pakistan. More than a million school children were affected by the earthquake and around 8,000 schools in Pakistan were destroyed or damaged.
Already, Save the Children US has provided more than 42,000 families with the materials to build shelters and established 137 safe play spaces benefiting an estimated 11,524 displaced children.
Save the Children UK estimates that it will take up to seven years to rebuild the education system in Pakistan. Since the earthquake, school enrolment rates have plummeted with around 34,000 children in Muzaffarabad and Bagh not attending schools anymore.
“Missing out on a quality education has a profound effect on the rest of a child’s life,” said Saima Anwer, Save the Children UK’s Education Director in Pakistan. “If a child does not get a decent education they are at a higher risk of being put to work or being married off at an early age. Education is an urgent priority and the government of Pakistan and other agencies must step up their efforts to restore the education system”.
Save the Children UK has built 174 temporary and semi permanent school shelters, which are quick and efficient to build and are sturdier and safer than tents. The organisation is also appealing to the government to make a real commitment to the immediate a rapid reconstruction of further schools and to put a plan in place to provide adequate and safe shelter for 80% of affected schools before next winter.
Save the Children US has also established 68 temporary schools for more than 5,000 students and supported communities to begin constructing 80 transitional schools.
The three schools they have built in the Meira Camp have been housing 2,000 families during the winter with more than 1,500 students being taught in tented classrooms and 26 teachers on staff.
Save the Children is calling on donor countries to provide additional urgent emergency support for lifesaving and life-sustaining shelter, food, healthcare and education. Children and their families still face enormous challenges to survive and thrive, and international relief organizations working in the region require ongoing support to help curtail the massive suffering that is occurring.
How you can help
We need funding for our emergency response to help those affected by the earthquake.
Please donate through local Save the Children organisation
