South Asia Earthquake

The South Asia earthquake struck Pakistan hard on 8 October, 2005. The damage was huge with thousands killed, many more injured, and several million homeless. The UN refugee agency had stockpiles of life-saving supplies and operational capacity on the ground where it has worked for 25 years, caring for Afghan refugees. UNHCR immediately started distributing urgently needed tents and blankets from its Pakistan warehouses. Then, a massive airlift from UNHCR's global and regional stockpiles around the world got underway flying in urgently needed tents and shelter materials. On the ground aid workers struggled around the clock to overcome awesome logistical challenges.

The UN refugee agency has traditionally played a very minor role – if any at all – during natural disasters. Its mandate is for refugees – the product of deliberate persecution or war – with a recently expanded role for people displaced within their own countries by similar man-made causes.

UNHCR Response
UNHCR delivered 20,000 family tents, 500,000 blankets, 60,000 plastic sheets and 25,000 jerry cans as well as tens of thousands of other emergency relief items.

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