WHO voices concern over health ramifications of Afghanistan, Pakistan quake

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday voiced concern on increasing health needs after the massive earthquake struck the mountainous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake was centered in Jurm district of northeastern Afghanistan's Badakhshan's province, and was felt across the region.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that some 866,000 people live in a circle of around 100 km around the epicenter in Jurm district, 65 km south of Faizabad.

The hardest-hit areas were those also most affected by militant violence, including an intense Taliban offensive that had stretched for weeks in remote parts of the north.

"Jalalabad is one of the provinces badly hit by the earthquake and latest information received has so far reported 119 injuries and nine deaths. Figures received from the health facilities and in various towns showed that over 300 were injured and 21 deaths reported as of Tuesday morning," Lindmeier added.

Initial reports indicated damaged homes and potential casualties across northern, central and eastern Afghanistan. The death toll is set to rise as the most severely affected areas are very remote and communications have been cut off.

Lindmeier highlighted the increasing health needs after the massive earthquake.

Apart from immediate trauma and injuries, WHO expects to see a number of health risks such as water borne diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, acute respiration infections, and other vaccines preventable diseases such as measles, pertussis and tetanus.

"Then, of course, we have post-traumatic stress disorders, wound infections, injuries, malaria, dengue, and so on and so forth," Lindmeier added. Endit