PAKISTAN is mourning a lost generation of children in the earthquake-devastated Kashmir area.

Around 33,000 people are thought to have perished and millions were left homeless by the quake which flattened parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Saturday.

Of those feared dead, some 15,000 youngsters were killed when their homes and schools were reduced to rubble.

It is thought a staggering 2.5 million people have been displaced and left homeless.

The Daily Echo is urging you, our readers, to dig into your pockets for the millions of people whose lives have been devastated by the disaster.

We have joined forces with charity Unicef to launch the Bournemouth Echo/UNICEF South Asia Earthquake Children's Appeal. Just £21 can provide blankets to protect 10 small children from the cold, £45 can provide enough clean water to meet the early needs of 10 families and £125 can provide emergency health kits with essential drugs, medical supplies and equipment to support 1,000 people for three months.

Unicef Uk Executive Director David Bull said: "Unicef is appealing for vital funds that will be used to protect the most vulnerable children and women in South Asia.

"These people have lost everything."

First published: October 12