The Restoring Family Links website has been activated
in relation to the earthquake in Afghanistan and Pakistan – bit.ly/1ijHMXg
Two days ago a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan/Pakistan with the epicenter in the Jerm district in the Afghan province of Badakhshan close to the border with Pakistan. Shockwaves were felt throughout the region.
The Afghan Red Crescent deployed about 200 volunteers and staff to the affected areas to provide emergency relief, conduct assessments and assist with blood donation services. Emergency response teams are mobilized for search and rescue.
The Pakistan Red Crescent Society also immediately deployed to carry out relief activities. Emergency medical material to treat patients has been delivered to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and District Headquarters Hospital Swat.
Both emergency response teams are actively involved in tending to those wounded and providing basic assistance to the most affected people. It will take several days to have a clear picture of the extent of the damages as many areas are covered by snow and many roads are still blocked due to landslides.
The Family Linking website has been activated in response to this disaster. The website is currently available in English, it will be followed by an Urdu then Pashto version.
This family links website offers people the possibility to:
- Search through the list of missing persons and people who have responded that they are alive
- Register names of persons with whom they have lost contact
- Register names of persons who wish to inform others that they are alive
People can register in a form on the website, which is submitted to the Red Cross. Names will not automatically appear on the lists in the website. The names which people wish to make public will need to be processed by the Red Cross first, which is continuously updating the lists.
Inquiries will be accepted that meet the following criteria:
- The sought person and inquirer must be family members
- Inquiries must have the last known address information
- Sought persons live in the affected area and had been in regular contact with their relatives
If anyone is unable to use the website contact the Restoring Family Links Unit at 202-303-5280 for further guidance.
Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747.
Gold Country News and Notes 