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The Pakistan earthquake - Three years on
8 October 2008
On 8 October 2005 an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck 100
kilometres north of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. The world saw TV images of
hospitals flattened, homes razed to their foundations, families cleaved apart,
and roads, bridges and power lost.
It seemed too that hope was hope lost, with 70,000 people killed and 3 million made homeless in what soon became clear was the country's worst ever natural disaster. However, although the scale of the challenge for relief workers was immense, a remarkable international response ensured that vital help found its way to those in need. From the UK Government came £53 million of emergency assistance, while the Pakistani community in the UK and numerous organisations and individuals in Britain gave millions more.
To find out more about the events of three years ago, and the subsequent work to
rebuild affected parts of the country and restore hope to Pakistan's people, read the special anniversary feature in DFID's
Developments
magazine.
