Following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Balochistan region of Pakistan Tuesday, Direct Relief’s Emergency Response Team is reaching out to its health center partners in the area and is prepared to respond to requests for medicines and medical supplies to treat people in need.

Across six districts in the region, more than 300,000 people have been affected as a large percentage of mud homes were damaged or destroyed.  The earthquake has killed 327 people so far, but the death toll is expected to rise slightly as the military and local authorities continue to conduct rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but least populated province. Direct Relief’s nearest partner to the epicenter is Murshid Hospital in Karachi, which was unaffected by the quake. The staff at Murshid Hospital have kindly offered their facilities to address any complicated orthopedic cases from the disaster area.

Hospital director Haamid Jaffer is helping Direct Relief’s team connect with health care providers potentially treating people affected. Jaffer has contacted a hospital in Quetta – the capital of Balochistan – for more information. Communication infrastructure continues to be restored, and Jaffer hopes to find out more soon.

Direct Relief has also contacted Dr. Bakht Sarwar of CHAL Rehabilitation Center – a longstanding partner in Pakistan.  Dr. Sarwar is on his way to Quetta/Balochistan and plans to have more information regarding medical needs directly from the impacted area soon.

The Emergency Team continues to reach out to its network to evaluate how best Direct Relief can support people in Pakistan in the following days and weeks.

To support Direct Relief’s general emergency relief efforts, click here.

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