United Nations Radio

An earthquake registering 6.4 on the Richter scale struck parts of Balochistan, Pakistan on Wednesday.

UN Radio's Ben Malor spoke to Jamal Amjad, the World Food Programme Spokesperson in Pakistan, about the latest conditions and the needs of the survivors.

Amjad:At the moment, At the moment, the death toll that we have received from the government official figure stands at about 225 people have been killed and from 4-500 people are injured. Mainly the figures we got from assessment teams and the government authorities. Some 18,000 to 20,000 people have been displaced because of the earthquake in Balochistan.

Malor:If you could focus, what are the urgent needs of these survivors?

Amjad:As you are aware Ben, during such calamities, the immediate need, rescue and relief is always shelter, medicine, water - these are the urgent requirements during the first 24 hours. As we speak now, the immediate needs identified by the government of Baluchistan also includes food items as well. So apparently, WFP and other United Nations organizations, they are working very closely. We are adopting the same cluster approach as we did for October 8, 2005 earthquake which struck northern parts of Pakistan. So every effort that we are making is well-coordinated. And we are identifying the needs and responding to them certainly.

Malor:Specifically for WFP, what have you been able to do so far for the survivors?

Amjad:We have been asked by the provincial relief authorities in Balochistan that they need food items. During the first 24 hours to 48 hours, they needed cooked meals whereas we in our stocks in Balochistan, which is actually serving...we have dry rations available. Stocks are available - we don't have any issues.

We had planned to move about 700 tons of food immediately, which is available in Quetar itself. And that is going to be distributed to some 20,000 beneficiaries for a period of two months.

Malor:And how quickly can you get these food items to the survivors so they can make quick use of it and get over the trauma and the pain and the suffering of the earthquake?

Amjad:The National Disaster Management Authority has already mobilized some of their stocks, which included food items for the survival. And now, with a major injection from WFP side, we are really ready to move our items like from Sunday and Monday, our teams will be distributing food to the survivors.

Malor:Can the survivors wait that long, until Monday or Sunday?

Amjad:As I have already told you, that a frontier constabulary, military and provincial disaster management authority have been able to distribute cooked food to the worst affected. They are the beneficiaries. We have been collecting all the information which is required for us to move.

Malor:So WFP's role is largely to support the government of Balochistan to provide the items to survivors.

Amjad:WFP is very closely working with both national disaster management authority and provincial management authority. We have been asked to move our food out and we are responding to it.

WFP Spokespeson Jamal Amjad was interviewed by UN Radio's Ben Malor.

(duration: 3'32")