The death toll from the October 8 massive earthquake has increased to 55,000 and is likely to rise, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said here on Friday.
He was speaking as a chief guest at the graduation ceremony of the second batch of Afghan police officers held in National Police Academy.
Talking to reporters, Sherpao said 78,000 people were injured in the earthquake that ravaged an area spreading over 21,000 square kilometre, leaving millions homeless.
He said 5,000 earthquake refugees had been settled down in tent villages and other places in Islamabad while over 10,000 injured were under treatment in different hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The Minister said in the wake of October 8 earthquake, 55 countries had provided aid to Pakistan for quake-victims. He expressed thanks to Nato forces for extending their help in relief and rehabilitation efforts. Replying to a question, he said the Nato forces would return after the rehabilitation work.
"Tents are a priority item to provide shelter to all quake affected people before extreme winter sets in."
"The government is striving to shelter quake survivors in tent villages, but many people are not ready to leave their areas," he said.
Sherpao said every effort was being made to bridge the gap between demand and supply of tents. The Minister said that relief operations were continuing in full swing in the affected areas.
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