Pakistan 2005 earthquake: Preliminary damage and needs assessment

At the request of the Government of Pakistan, a mission led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank conducted a preliminary damage and needs assessment. This assessment estimates the damage and reconstruction costs of the October 8, 2005 earthquake that struck areas of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in Pakistan. Experts from the government as well as international organizations also participated in this assessment. The team’s objectives were to conduct, in coordination with the government, development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders, a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the earthquake. It also estimated the related economic implications of the event. In addition to the damage assessment, the team was asked to assess the emerging needs of the affected communities to be reflected in the medium to longer term reconstruction and recovery phases following the initial relief efforts.