A horrendous 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook the northeastern part of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) on October 8th, 2005. The quake triggered landslides and cracked long, deep crevasses in the earth and on the roads. Impoverished villages rumbled while 85% of the apartments and buildings were flattened in no time. The number of mortalities surpassed nearly 90,000 people in those areas. ECHO￿s team rushed to help the affected victims of Islamabad. They realized that immediate action ought to be taken to send aid to the isolated people in the remote areas, who had limited access to the basic necessities and medical care. First, ECHO￿s crew visited the Mansera health camp to relieve the survivors and medical teams. ECHO donated cots, which the doctors used as stretchers for the victims, and food for the patients and crew members. Then ECHO moved on to Muzaffar Abad to devote most of its efforts to the victims there. ECHO donated:

1. Blankets
2. Ground mats
3. Shoes and socks
4. Clothing and shawls
5. Plastic sheets
6. Utensils
7. Flour
8. Sugar
9. Cooking oil
10. Milk and tea
11. Rice and spices

As a result of the devastation more then 4 million people were left homeless and suffering in the open air in the bitter cold of winter in Pakistan. We are looking forward to your support in donating your time or any usable item for the destitute earthquake victims and communities.