A strong earthquake, said to be the most powerful to hit the region in 100 years, caused large scale destruction leaving thousands dead, injured and homeless in Pakistan.

The earthquake hit South Asia on Ocober 8, 2005 with epicentre 95 kilometers northeast of Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale with over one thousand aftershocks in weeks to follow, this earthquake has caused a major tragedy followed by a massive relief operation with substantial contribution from the world community.

Muzaffarabad, capital of the Pakistan Administered Kashmir with a population of 0.2 million turned into a graveyard after the October 8 earthquake. Majority of the buildings in this city were turned into rubble and dead bodies could be seen trapped therein.

"I saw death so closely, its a new lease of life for me" said Fauzia, a university student who was burried under the rubble of her two stories house. She was rescued by relatives who moved the debris with their bare hands."

Health
Between 1.6 and 2.2 million children faced exposure, malnutrition and disease after being left homeless by the October 8 earthquake that devastated a 28,000 square kilometre swathe of Pakistan’s mountainous northeast

• Of 796 health facilities in 8 districts of NWFP and AJK, 388 were destroyed and 197 needed refitting

• Five district hospitals were destroyed; over three million people lost homes and lived in tents or inadequate shelter over winter, including 300,000 people in congested camps

• The earthquake killed 21 Lady Health Workers and injured 141 health staff. Hundreds more were injured.

Education
• The earthquake destroyed or damaged approximately 9,968 schools

• Around 18,000 school students and 853 teachers were killed in the earthquake, which struck just as Saturday morning classes got under way

• A total of 7,669 educational establishments were destroyed

• 85% of primary schools in Mansehra and Battagram districts of NWFP were damaged or destroyed

• 87% of primary schools in Bagh district were damaged or destroyed

• 92% of schools were damaged or destroyed in Muzaffarabad

• The education of 450,000 primary school children was interrupted

• District education offices and sub-offices collapsed
Child Protection:
• Severe shock and trauma was widespread among children after the October 8 earthquake killed 73,000 people, wiped out hundreds of thousands of homes and destroyed 7,669 education al establishments

• Estimates suggest 17,802 children lost a father and 21,441 lost a mother

• A camp survey estimated 1,700 children were orphaned and 500 registered in institutions

• Hundreds of children were separated from their families and turned up alone in camps and hospitals

• Thousands of children were seriously injured, suffering head wounds and broken bones

• Around 10,000 children were disabled, many permanently after suffering spinal injuries

• Unaccompanied children were vulnerable to trafficking and abuse, against which few measures were in place before the earthquake

• Psycho-social support was needed immediately

• Children were at risk of being removed from their communities and placed into institutions

• Widows and orphaned children were at risk of being neglected
Water and Sanitation
The October 8 earthquake destroyed water distribution networks across the 28,000 square kilometre affected area

• Springs and wells supplying fresh water to villages were severely disrupted

• Urban sanitation systems and home latrines were destroyed

• The water treatment plant was damaged in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-Administered Kashmir (PAK). The plant was already operating at 40 percent capacity and pumping water of high turbidity with inadequate chlorination before the earthquake

• In the immediate aftermath, 300,000 people were living in 600 congested camps with no access to safe drinking water or proper sanitation

• More than one million people were vulnerable to high risks of water-borne diseases & illnesses
source unicef

Today on October 8 Yum-e-Istiqamat in remembrance of people killed in last year quake was observed. Sirens were wailed for one minutes early in the morning at 8.51am, while one minutes' silence was also observed at 8.53am.

The same day last year hue and cry all around the Kashmir and Norhtern Western Frontier Province of Pakistan were breaking the silence of the mountains and the thick forests. People were pressed under the roofs and walls of the houses which once was a symbol of security from the hazards. But it was over for lot many and a continous pain, suffering n longing to be again with the lost ones. A disastrous and unforgettable incident had happened costing the lives of more than 80,000 people and many left crippled.

May the souls of the dead rest in peace (amin). Raise your hands in prayer for the ones who died and for the ones who suffered. May Allah shower his blessings on them and all of us.

I got a chance to visit Singapore and found it a wonderful country. I met several young people coming from throughout Asia. They asked me and my friends different questions...do you live in houses made up of bricks or mud mortar?? No women in your country is allowed to go out house..?? I am unable to understand why cant we resist to this negative propaganda...?
For Gods Sake there nothing like what media shows to the world and always the negative aspect...!!!!