ISLANDERS are being asked to give more to the Jersey Side By Side Earthquake Appeal as the disaster in Pakistan becomes worse than December’s tsunami.

In two weeks £15,000 has been pledged to the Island charity, which was set up following an earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day of last year.

But as the extent of the devastation is revealed and snow sets in in Pakistan, Side By Side is appealing for more help.

International agencies say the devastation caused by the earthquake that struck South Asia on 8 October is still being underestimated and the United Nations are concerned that the death toll from the quake could double from 48,000 as winter weather sets in.

Side By Side chairman Mike Wavell said that people were not giving in the same way as they did when the tsunami hit, and help was urgently needed.

He said: ‘I think I was very cautious in Side By Side actually taking this on because we are very conscious of the other charities in the Island, particularly coming up to Christmas.

But I think we were right to throw that caution to the wind.

‘The United Nations report on Thursday highlighted the problems.

The media have moved on and people cannot comprehend the size that this disaster is going to be, not just what it is.

The weather is moving in and I think this could cause more misery and devastation than the tsunami.

This is going to be worse in many ways.’