'Half of Zimbabwe will soon need food aid'

Half of Zimbabwe's people will be dependent on emergency food aid next year. Of the estimated four million who have fled, up to three million have moved to neighbouring South Africa and a large number has moved to London. It is estimated that 100,000 Zimbabweans are crossing into South Africa every month. Read the rest here.

Aftermath of the Peru earthquake

Peruvian officials say they have run out of tents and urgently need at least 40,000 more to house victims of the devastating earthquake two weeks ago.
Aid agencies said many survivors in the Ica region were living on the streets in unhygienic conditions, and were desperately in need of basic supplies.
The UN asked the international community for $37m (£18.3m) for medical help, water, food, tents and blankets.
He predicts that the first victims could receive new houses in six months' time and has pledged to bypass Peru's notorious bureaucracy.
And as part of the clear-up operation, the National Institute of Culture has been taking stock of the damage to historical sites in the region.
Institute director Cecilia Bakula said the earthquake had taken a "painful toll" on Peru's historical heritage, destroying 32% of the region's 173 monuments and buildings of historical importance.

Turkey Earthquake

Now have a look at what happened in 1999 and compare this to the Peru information. Which was worse and why?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/17/newsid_2534000/2534245.stm

Aftershock or another earthquake

Scientists are not sure whether the strong quake experienced after the recent disaster is a 2nd quake or an aftershock. You can read about some of the problems at the BBC site below and see some of the long term and short term aid needed when such a disaster strikes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6951981.stm

Other countries in the region - including Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Chile - have sent relief supplies.
Help is also coming from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy and France.
The United Nations said it was ready to help, while the International Federation of the Red Cross said it had sent two planes loaded with supplies. The latter also launched an appeal for emergency aid.
The earthquake happened in one of the most seismically active regions of the world.