At least 23,000 people have been killed in the massive earthquake that struck close to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on the morning of Saturday 8 October. Tremors were felt as far afield as Kabul and Delhi, but the main affected areas have been Kashmir and Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.

HelpAge International, with partners Help Age India and Help the Aged, sent a mobile medical unit to the Indian city of Uri in Kashmir soon after the earthquake devastated the town, to help the injured.

Two other mobile medical units from Punjab are arriving in the area today (11 October). These units will provide medical care to survivors in outlying villages about 50 kilometres from the epicentre of the quake.

Older people need food and shelter

HelpAge India has undertaken an immediate assessment of older people in the area. The assessment has shown that older people need food, shelter, sanitation and other essential items.

Help Age India will supply further medicine and blankets, and special high altitude tents to provide protection from the extreme cold that will hit when the weather changes in the next few weeks.

HelpAge International’s partner in Pakistan, Pakistan Medico International, is assessing the needs of older people in other affected areas.

Needs of older people often ignored

Research in other emergencies demonstrates that although older people are commonly accepted as being a vulnerable group, humanitarian relief operations often ignore them. Relief systems discriminate against older people and can undermine their capacity to support themselves.

Bill Gray, HelpAge International’s emergency manager, said, “It is essential that older people are treated as a group with special needs in emergency situations. They are usually forgotten when disaster strikes, as we have seen all too frequently in recent disasters such as the tsunami earthquake and the Southern Africa food crisis.

“HelpAge International and its partners are undertaking detailed assessments of the needs of older people in India and Pakistan to provide emergency relief and offer sustainable ways of helping people to rebuild their lives.”

How you can help

To donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Asia Quake Appeal, visit the DEC website.

The DEC is an umbrella organisation that launches and coordinates the UK's national appeal in response to major disasters overseas. HelpAge International’s partner organisation, Help the Aged, is one of its members.

You can also donate directly to Help the Aged's Asia Earthquake Appeal.