IOM has deployed two medical teams to provide basic medical and
psychosocial support to earthquake survivors in affected areas of
Balochistan.

An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck three
districts of the province on 29 October 2008, killing at least 300
people and leaving over 70,000 homeless.

As part of an inter-agency medical support initiative and in
cooperation with the provincial Health Department, IOM medical
teams are conducting daily outreach clinics in Kach and Kawas Union
Councils of Ziarat District, 70km north-east of Quetta, the Balochi
capital.

The two teams, which include female psychologists and social
workers, have so far assessed the physical, social and
psychological needs of affected people in several remote villages
including Wam, Kili Ahmed Khan, Kili Sarang Zai and Warghargai.

Female staff were deliberately selected for the teams as male
aid workers are often refused access to women and children, often
the most vulnerable earthquake survivors, in remote areas of
Pakistan.

"We normally have to travel at least 6 or 7 hours every day to
reach these remote communities, most of which don't have any health
facilities," says Dr. Muddasser Ban Abad, manager of IOM medical
teams based in Quetta.

The teams are also providing healthcare services to survivors
for minor physical ailments, including respiratory infections, as
temperatures fall with the onset of winter.

They are also conducting basic psychosocial support sessions for
children and women, focusing on qualitative assessment of their
psychosocial needs, providing guidance and referrals.

"The sessions involve active listening so that traumatized
people can express themselves and vent their concerns. There are
play and drawing activities for children and motivational
activities for vulnerable groups, empowering them to focus on the
urgent task of temporary shelter building," says Dr. Bernard Kofi
Opare, head of IOM's Medical Unit in Islamabad.

IOM is also providing logistical support to the Department of
Psychiatry of Bolan Medical College to conducting psychiatry
sessions for earthquake-affected people.

For further information, please contact:

Saleem Rehmat

IOM Islamabad

Tel:  +92 300 856 03 41

E-mail: "mailto:srehmat@iom.int">srehmat@iom.int