Cologne. After the heavy earthquake in Pakistan, Malteser International is supporting the Joint Assessment conducted by the "Pakistan Humanitarian Forum". As part of this, the or-ganisation sends a medical doctor to the affected region in Beluchistan where the earthquake caused more than 160 deaths. In the district of Ziarat alone, more than 50,000 people are affected.

Furthermore, Malteser International is preparing for emergency relief in the disaster area to help the survivors of the earthquake. The organisation plans to support at least 500 affected families with Non Food items, such as tarpaulins for temporary shelter, drinking water containers and purification tablets as well as family hygiene kits (soap, buckets and bowls and towels) and hygiene awareness activities. The Federal Foreign Office of Germany announced its financial support for the relief activities.

Malteser International is working in Pakistan since the severe earthquake in 2005. In the dis-tricts of Kohistan, Muzaffarabad and Bagh, the organisations provided winter-proven temporary shelter, rehabilitated the water supply structures and treats patients in remote areas by mobile health teams and rebuilds Basic Health Units. After the severe floods in Beluchistan in 2007, Malteser International provided disaster relief to 1,000 affected families.

To support the relief work of Malteser International in Pakistan, please transfer your donations to: Donation Account 2020122 Pax-Bank Köln, von-Werth-Str. 25-27, D-50670 Köln, Germany Sort Code : 370 60 193 IBAN : DE93 3706 0193 0002 0201 22 BIC: GENODED1PAX Reference : "Pakistan"

Attention editorial offices: Dr. Jürgen Clemens, Senior Desk Officer Pakistan of Malteser International, as well as English speaking staff members on the ground, are available for in-terviews. Please contact: +49 (0)221 / 9822-213.

Malteser International is the worldwide relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for hu-manitarian aid. The organisation provides aid in about 200 projects in more than 20 countries without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of its work. For further information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.org