« What is impossible for any picture to convey in the sheer magnitude of this catastrophe. In the most affected area, which covers some 28,000 square kilometers of Pakistan, all essential infrastructure has been destroyed.

That means thousands of hospitals and schools ; government buildings and water systems ; major roads and transport.

(…)

The latest death toll stands at 42,000 with at least 67,000 injured. But because we still have not accessed hundreds of thousands of people in remote areas, we fear that the actual figures are far higher.

(…)

An estimated three million men, women and children are homeless. Many of them have no blankets or tents to protect them against the merciless Himalayan winter.

That means a second, massive wave of death will happen if we do not step up our efforts now.

(…)

That will require more funds: so far, donors have made firm commitments for only 12 per cent, or 37 million dollars, of our appeal for 312 million dollars. If you add loose commitments, you get a total of 84 million, or 27 per cent. In comparison, the Tsunami Flash Appeal was more than 80 per cent funded within 10 days after the disaster.

(...)