US naval relief ship arrives in Karachi
 

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 Daily Times


* More foreign aid trickles in on the 16th day

KARACHI: A US navy vessel ferrying 140 tonnes of earthquake donations arrived on Monday, making its second relief trip in a week to the port of Karachi, SANA reported.

The US Pearl Harbor arrived carrying blankets and non-perishable food items donated by Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates. The US carrier was greeted on arrival by a group of Pakistani disaster assistance volunteers who offloaded the goods.

US Consul General Mary H Witt said, “Our helicopters, some flown with Pakistani pilots and crew, are flying relief missions in the earthquake areas and our technical teams are helping Pakistani experts in road building. A team of American physicians of Pakistani origin is already assisting local medical teams.”

More US helicopters to arrive: The United States is sending more helicopters to Pakistan to assist in delivery of humanitarian aid supplies and casualty evacuations in the remote areas of the earthquake-ravaged region. Six US army CH-47 Chinooks will be added over the next three days to the 12 US military helicopters already in the region supporting Pakistani-led relief efforts.

Currently 21 US helicopters, including 7 provided by the State Department, are participating in relief operations. To date US helicopters have delivered approximately 1,093 tonnee of humanitarian supplies to the disaster areas and evacuated more than 3,250 casualties.

More foreign aid trickles in: International donors sent emergency relief goods for the quake victims on the 16th consecutive day of the relief operation as several aircraft landed at Chaklala Airbase on Monday. A Turkish C-130 aircraft carrying an ambulance and iron plates landed here at the airbase. Another cargo aircraft from France carrying 3,250 kilogramme tents, medicines and baggage also arrived here.

A C-130 aircraft from Afghanistan carrying four tonnes of blankets also landed at the airbase. Similarly, two C-130 aircrafts of the Japan Air Force brought a helicopter and spare parts. A cargo aircraft of Al-Saudia brought 72.4 tonnes tents and a cargo aircraft from the United Kingdom brought one helicopter, one truck and a 24-member rescue team arrived here. A cargo plane from the United Arab Emirates loaded with 42 tonnes of rice and other food items landed at the airbase.

A cargo aircraft from the USA brought 11,245 kilogramme boxes for support of tents arrived here. A US aircraft carrying a 101-member medical rescue team also landed here on Monday. According to Inter Services Public Relations sources, 35 countries have sent assistance. Two helicopters of Aga Khan Foundation are also taking part in the relief operation.

A Japanese medical team has set up a field hospital in Battagram and Aga Khan Foundation has set up hospitals in Balakot and Mansehra, while Russian satellite field hospital has also been set up in Muzaffarabad. agencies

Re: US naval relief ship arrives in Karachi
 

Karzai assures all-out support




By A Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday agreed to closely coordinate with each other in developing their disaster preparedness plans. Visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai while addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz after holding talks with him said the two countries “need to enhance cooperation” after the recent devastating earthquake.

“Both of us need reconstruction and it should be done in the best possible way,” he added.

He said there “is a need for Pakistan and Afghanistan to work in synergy” in many areas. He said the two countries could share scientific information and technical knowledge.

He said Afghanistan was ready to help Pakistan in best possible manner in the aftermath of the earthquake. “You can count on us. We will do whatever we can”, he added.

Officials in Kabul said Mr Karzai had brought five tons of medicine and a 30-strong medical team to Islamabad, according to an AFP dispatch.

Mr Karzai said over 100 Afghan refugees were among the victims of the recent calamity. The Afghan government “is ready to take the injured Afghans for treatment to the country, if they so desire”. He, however, said the government of Pakistan is providing the best possible medical facilities to them.

Answering a question, he said Afghanistan will actively participate in the Conference on Reconstruction to be held in Pakistan in November. He said he will also be paying an official visit to Pakistan after Eid.

Answering a question, he said Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) “have done a good job in Afghanistan” and hoped that they will do the same in Pakistan as well. He, however, observed that there should be governmental accountability of NGOs.

He also praised Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for years.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said a strong and stable Afghanistan was in the interest of the world, the region and Pakistan.

He thanked Mr Karzai for visiting Pakistan in the aftermath of the massive earthquake. He said the quake had created many challenges for the country and its people.

He lauded Afghanistan for quickly responding to the disaster and contributing to the relief and rescue efforts. He pointed out that Afghanistan pledged half a million dollars in aid and provided four helicopters for relief and rescue operations.

Afghanistan also sent 20 tons of dry fruit and as a unique expression of sympathy with Pakistan over the loss of thousands of precious lives, the national flag of Afghanistan flew at half-mast for three days.

He said 35 medical and rescue teams were serving the cause of humanity in different quake-hit areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

He said Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoyed close relations in various areas. Pakistan was committed to supporting Afghanistan in every possible manner. He pointed out that the volume of trade between the two countries was 1.2 billion US dollars now and will further rise in the days ahead.

He said the two countries “have common views” on major diplomatic issues. The two countries “are committed to ensuring security and fighting the menace of terrorism”.

He said the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) will be meeting in January.

Earlier, the Afghan president had a one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Aziz. The two leaders were later joined by their aides. The Afghan delegation included Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Minister for Public Health Dr Sayed Amin Fatemi, Minister for Energy and Water Muhammad Ismael, National Security Adviser Dr Zalmay Rasool, and Secretary General of Afghan Red Crescent Society Mrs Fatima Gilani.

Earlier, Mr Karzai also called on President General Pervez Musharraf and expressed deep sense of shock and grief over the devastating earthquake that claimed thousands of precious lives.

http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/25/top8.htm

Re: US naval relief ship arrives in Karachi
 

Two children evacuated from tent blaze

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The army pilots have evacuated two child survivors of the earthquake who were badly burned when their tent caught fire, a statement said on Monday.

Twelve-year-old Saad and his sister Maria, 14, both received 80 per cent burns and their father was also injured in the blaze in the Basian tent village near Balakot late on Sunday.

They were evacuated by helicopter to a burns hospital in Kharian, some 200 kilometers southeast of Balakot, the statement said.

A total of 91 helicopters from Pakistan, the US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and private relief organisations are flying relief supplies and airlifting injured earthquake survivors, it said.—AFP

Does anyone know when the saudi helicopters arrived and what type? havent heard any mention of them before.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Daily Times - Site Edition Tuesday, October 25, 2005


Islamabad is on five major fault lines

By Shahzad Raza

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad is situated on five major fault lines, one of which is exactly underneath the Faisal Mosque.

Allah Bakhsh Kosar, the director of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), and MZ Babar, a GSP geo-physicist, told Daily Times on Monday that it could not be determined when these fault lines will cause another earthquake. The officials said that an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 was reported a few days ago, and had its epicentre near Shahzad Town.

They said that the fault lines under Islamabad were around 30 million years old. “The earthquakes have to come sooner or later. The important thing is how well we are prepared to face them,” they said, adding that the entire country, except the planes of Punjab, was tectonically fractured. They said that the ancient civilisation of Taxila might also have perished from a severe earthquake. A major two-kilometre fault line was situated under Havellian, they said.

The GSP officials said that when the government had planned to declare Islamabad the federal capital, its seismic zoning was conducted. Geologists had warned the then government that Islamabad was prone to high intensity earthquakes because it was situated in an active earthquake zone.

The officials said that it was not advisable to construct high-rise buildings in Islamabad. They said that no building structure higher than two stories should be allowed in the federal capital, as the earth’s crust in Islamabad could not sustain the weight of high-rise buildings.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2005-d...ain/main16.htm



No room for dead in Muzaffarabad

Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: "If anyone wants to see what the Day of Judgment would look like I say take a trip to Muzaffarbad. I have seen relatives not recognizing each other. I have seen ground rejecting the dead - as there is no more room," this is how a volunteer shook many overseas Pakistanis through his e-mailed eyewitness account of the destruction caused by the October 8 earthquake.

The volunteer -- Abdurrahman -- was, however, overwhelmed to see the exceptional response of the people of Pakistan to help the affectees at this hour of need.

This exceptional response of the nation made him to write, "Today I am PROUD TO BE A PAKISTANI. Today we are a NATION tied together by one religion, Islam." Abdurrahman's e-mail, forwarded to this correspondent by an acquaintance settled in Canada, reads as: "Salaam Alaikum, we are back from Azad Kashmir. It was a good trip -- good in the sense that we came back with a feeling that a difference is being made -- no matter how small there is slight progress.

I had always wanted to see Neelam Valley and Kashmir quite appropriately dubbed a piece of heaven on earth by the British. Unfortunately what I saw was the Death Valley. The past one week my faith in just about everything has been tested to its extreme. Muzaffarabad is dead. There is no building standing in this capital city. The sole two buildings that survived will be brought down by the government in a day or two because they are unstable. Because it rained -- I had seen blood flow out of crumbled buildings in a thick maroon paste as if the buildings themselves are bleeding.

Something that aches the most all the children are dead. The classes started at 8:00 that fateful morning and those inside were all crushed. The smell of death plagues the city start to end. We had to walk a lot no matter where you go and what you do -- you smell them and after a while it becomes a part of you. As I write this I can still smell it even though I am home now and have showered three times and tossed those clothes out.

If anyone wants to see what the Judgment Day would look like I say take a trip to Muzaffarabad. I have seen relatives not recognize each other. I have seen ground rejecting the dead - as there is no more room. I have seen aches, pains, and misery like no one can imagine.

People walk the streets like zombies with fear and misery in their eyes. For three days following the earthquake there was no Azan or Namaz in the city - three days later the first Azan was given and people started screaming everywhere. There were sounds of Allah-O-Akbar and La'Elaha Ellalah everywhere. There sounds of screams, cries, and shouts. Everyone ran to streets some fell on the ground in Sajood to pray (maybe) or just were overpowered - that I do not know. Others cried and hit their heads. People hugged people and cried.

In this past one week I have wanted to cry uncontrollably .. but the people everywhere in Dheerkot, Bagh, Muzaffarabad, and Balakot (and all other places too I am sure) expressed such metal in the wake of this crisis that they have kept themselves strong.

This is what I saw.

Allah tested this nation by throwing world's 4th largest earthquake at us and this nation stood up saying Allah-o-Akbar. From Karachi to Muzaffarabad there is an ocean of convoys taking aid - you cannot imagine in your wildest imaginations how this nation has responded.

People are virtually gambling on their lives to get aid through. When the ground shakes from quakes and aftershocks Pakistanis hold hands and stand firm and say loudly Allah-O-Akbar, we came from you and to you we will return.

When rocks the size of cars rain from mountains, Pakistanis walk steadily saying Allah-O-Akbar, give us strength to walk. When mass graves are dug and tens of dead are lowered for eternity, Pakistanis say - Allah-O-Akbar, forgive us even if we are not worthy of your mercy.

When rubble is moved and dead bodies of innocent children are found I heard Pakistani mothers cry and people say "do not cry we do not understand His wisdom. He is all knowing and all powerful".

Today I am PROUD TO BE A PAKISTANI. Today we are a NATION tied together by one religion, Islam. But things are not well. The destruction is huge, 1/4th of Pakistan suffers. Medicines are needed, food stock is moderate to fair, tents and blankets are badly needed.

We shall go again on Wednesday. We have found a good place to put up our camps in Muzaffarabad. Those who have helped ... I would say dig deeper. Those who have not I would say please do not wait. Do whatever you can with whomever you can.

Here is basic info for you: Muzaffarabad the largest city in Kashmir was home to 500,000. There 35,000 casualties, the rest 465,000 needs roughly 30 kg of food/week which means - 14,000 tons of food has to be sent every week till the situation comes into control.

The most a truck can take is five tons and most trucks can only do 1.5 to 3 tons. Lifesaving medicines are urgently needed. I cannot give you any estimate on their need. Allah Hafiz. Abdurrahman."

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

91 copters carrying out relief, rescue operation

Rawalpindi—A total of 91 helicopters including 41 of Pakistan, 22 from various friendly countries and 18 of different Non-Governmental Organizations and independent organizations are hectically engaged in relief and rescue operation in quake-afflicted areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP.

The helicopters of Pakistan, employed on rescue and relief operation include 16 MI-17, three Puma, 10 Bell 412, two Y-12, two Seaking (Navy), and eight Aloutte.

The 22 helicopters of friendly countries include, twelve of US, two German, two of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and four of Afghanistan.

The 18 miscellaneous helicopters including one of ICRC, three of Japan, two Latvia, two UN, one Jet Ranger of Edhi, four AB139 of Aga Khan, two Kamove of France and one Bell 212 of UAE.

During the last 16 days the fleet of Pakistani and allied helicopters have flown 2715 hours and evacuated 13,651 causalities. Over 2,200 tons of relief items have been shifted to the quake affected areas.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) Army Aviation, Major General Javed Aslam Tahir (HI) Monday said that after initiating its relief operation in quake-affected areas, Army aviation has made 3400 sorties till Sunday

He said, “We have been using about 60 to 70 helicopters of Army aviation. We fly nearly 2600 hours.”

Talking to PTV he said, within fifteen minutes of the quake, the army aviation was alerted..

To a question he said, after the earthquake first plane was air borne within 26 to 30 minutes and first causality which was lifted from Bagh area reached CMH Rawalpindi at 11.30 am.

Meanwhile, Relief operations have been intensified in the quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP on Monday.

According to PTV, several tonnes of rations, tents, blankets and medicines have been sent to the quake-hit areas by helicopters from Chaklala Air Base. Chinook, MI-17 and other helicopters made several sorties to Muzaffarabad, Balakot and other affected areas to carry out relief operation.

Numerous serious patients were shifted to Rawalpindi and Islamabad hospitals while relief goods were distributed in the affected areas among the survivors.

Vehicles carrying relief goods were on their way to the quake hit areas for onward distribution among the survivors. More tent villages have been set up in the quake-hit areas to accomudate the influx of displaced persons who continue to descend from hamlets of far-flung mountainous regions.

Around 10,000 survivors have been accommodated in tent villages of Garhi Habibullah, Shinkiari, Batagram and Balakot and are being provided free meal and medicines.—Agencies

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

The govt. has just failed to organise the national effort into a cohesive stream. Amir Aziz a renowned trauma surgeon held a meeting at lahore press club and detailed his relief efforts. The meeting was attended by colleagues and philanthropist from LCCI, lahore chamber of commerce and industry. He informed us on the state of gross disorganisation of relief effort. 25-45,000 are at imminent high risk of dying of wound infections, cold and lack of food especially children. The total casuality rate is likely to reach between 1.5 to 2.5 lakhs.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Any truth in these reports??



Looting rescuers

According to a news report (Oct 17), hosts of Afghan refugees have reached the quake-hit areas to loot relief goods and steal household items from abandoned houses and shops. Aid is not reaching the victims in inaccessible areas, and outsiders who are mostly Afghan refugees living in the unaffected Haripur district and adjoining areas, are busy in looting.

Mohammad Jameel, a Peshawar schoolteacher with relatives in the devastated area, said: "When relief supplies are air-dropped in accessible areas, various Afghans and outsiders not only catch them but also snatch them from locals and quake victims who are not strong enough to resist these looters."

Pakistan gave shelter to millions of Afghan refugees and hosted them for over three decades. Imagine how many resources of the country they shared and utilised. The fact that today millions of Pakistani youth are unemployed is also due to the Afghan refugees taking over their share of business in the country. We have not only suffered a lot because of their presence in millions, but also because of the menace they transferred to the Pakistani society. Today's Kalashnikov culture, drug mafia, extremism and terrorism are the blessings of the Afghans. Those Afghan refugees looting the devastating earthquake victims are snatching away sustenance from the mouths of the dying.

Afghans have not paid us back for our hospitality; all we have had are accusations from Kabul and the Northern Alliance.

No action is taken against these people, who have gone through similar conditions three decades ago.

Saima Salamullah

Islamabad

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

U.S. Cooperation to Pakistan Earthquake
Relief Efforts - An Update
(Press Conference at Chaklala Airbase, Islamabad , Pakistan )

October 20, 2005

Participants:

Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker

DART Team Leader Bill Berger

Rear Admiral Michael A. LeFever

(begin transcript)


Ambassador Crocker: We are now 12 days into what I think for all of us remains a disaster of virtually unimaginable proportions. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and to all the tens, indeed hundred of thousands, of people affected by the October 8 earthquake. It is a disaster of incredible magnitude and it deserves a response proportionate to that disaster and that is what we’ve been working on since the day it happened.



The US government’s engagement here is a joint endeavor, it involves both a military response, Admiral LeFever’s team, and a civilian response through USAID, Bill Berger’s DART team. It’s also important for me to stress at the outset that this is not the United States operating independently; we are operating in support of the Government of Pakistan’s relief efforts. I had the opportunity yesterday to visit the Federal Relief Cell (FRC) and meet with Major General Farooq. I was enormously impressed with the organization that he and his team have brought to bear in just a few short days. Literally from the airport to the affected areas way out in the mountains. I think the government of Pakistan , the FRC, the Pakistani military deserve enormous credit for the way they have organized because that organization has allowed us and other friends of Pakistan from around the world to fall in, in effective support of the larger effort.



The United States was in at the beginning. Within 2 days of the earthquake we had our first relief planes on the ground, one military, one civilian, and we have kept that flow continuing from then until now. The earthquake was Saturday morning, Sunday night in Washington the White House announced our initial contribution to this effort will be 50 million dollars. Since then we have been active across the board. We have brought in





three, four, five fixed wing relief flights every night. Admiral LeFever’s helicopters have been in Pakistan since the Monday following the earthquake. They are running sorties

literally from dawn until dusk. There are twelve US military helicopters, we also have two contract helicopters, and we had five Huey-2 helicopters from the State Department that were already in country at the time of the quake supporting Pakistan’s counter-narcotics efforts. Those five Huey-2’s are crewed by Pakistanis. They have been flying literally since the day of the quake and I think it’s another good example of the joint approach to this effort. In this case it’s American airframes, Pakistani crews.



The last count I had, we had brought in by military aircraft, over 1,200 tons of relief supplies and as I said those flights continue at the rate of 4 or 5 a day. USAID thus far has spent about $17 million in the civilian relief effort and there is a great deal more to come. We are currently in the process of deploying a US military field hospital up to the affected areas. We are also deploying a company of military engineers, “Seabees” as they are very famously known in America . They will be in-bound in the next day or so. They will team up with Pakistani engineers and they will move forward jointly to help with the process of clearing roads.



I would also like to note that not all of the assistance from America to Pakistan is official, by any means. Americans are stepping up to this in a major way. American companies, at the last count I had, pledged over $15 million to the relief efforts in Pakistan . Private Americans are contributing by the thousands and Americans are coming forward. There is a team of American physicians of Pakistani origin currently in country. I met with the head of that effort. They’ll be doubling the number of doctors they have by the weekend, and I think what all of this tells all of us is that both the government and the people of America have been struck deeply by the magnitude of what has happened here. We’re present now in the relief operation. We will also be present as Pakistan moves ahead to recovery and reconstruction. I would like to ask Admiral LeFever if he would care to say a few words.



Admiral LeFever: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. As the Ambassador mentioned, I’m Rear Admiral Mike LeFever. I’m the Commander of the Disaster Assistance Center here heading up US military relief efforts in support of the wonderful job that the government of Pakistan and the Pakistan military are doing. Since we’ve been established roughly over a week ago, we have roughly about 400 US personnel, military and civilian personnel on the ground working hard to support all the relief efforts and all facets of the recovery that is ongoing. These efforts have included aviation support, logistics, medical and engineering expertise. We have done that working very closely with the Pakistanis’ well-run operation as they lead the efforts to aid their people.



As the Ambassador said we have 12 US helicopters currently working and since the time they’ve been working they have delivered over 1.2 million pounds of supplies to the affected areas. They probably, at the same time, escorted many folks, including doctors and experts, into the affected areas and recovered over 1,900 casualties back here to the base to be provided into the local hospitals.



Also as you noticed, the Ambassador said the aircraft that are coming in each night, our men and women have been assisting as cargo handlers and have offloaded more than 2.3 million pounds of relief supplies right here at Chaklala. In the coming weeks, as the Ambassador mentioned, we’ll be having a 36 intensive care unit bed facility at the request of the government of Pakistan moved up to the area of Muzaffarabad. As you noted a few days ago, navy ships entered Karachi and off loaded the engineering supplies and road clearing supplies. They will be joined shortly and by the end of next week will be in locations working with the Pakistanis and clearing the primary and secondary roads to help the effort of re-supply into the disaster regions. Obviously we are honored and privileged to be working in this great friendship, in support of this disaster relief with the Pakistani military and the government of Pakistan .



Bill Berger: Thank you, Ambassador. Just to tell you a little bit about who we are, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) was established by Congress in 1964 to coordinate the US government’s response to international disasters. Our job here is to support the US embassy and the US mission in large disasters, major disasters like this, to work with the US military, to form the US government’s team in support of the host nation.



We have a rather small team but we’re long on years of experience. We have over 250 years of aggregate experience in dealing with disasters around the world. And I must say, echoing the words of the Ambassador, that it is the experience of our team that we have had very good cooperation in working with the Pakistan government and that we feel that they are doing an incredible job in responding to this disaster given the complexity of the operations.



OFDA’s mandate is to save lives and alleviate human suffering and relieve some of the economic impacts of disaster. The disaster response team has been here since just a couple of days after the disaster and in the 12 days since the earthquake hit has committed over $16.8 million. We responded to the UN Flash Appeal with $10.8 million and we brought in commodities along with our Department of Defense. 15,000 blankets, 15,000 water containers, over 1,150 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,500 tents, twenty cutting saws, water treatment units, and as the Ambassador said, this is the beginning, this isn’t the end of our operation.



We have also been programming and giving grants to local and international NGO’s to respond to this disaster. We have also supplied to the American Red Cross $2 million to give to the International Federation of the Red Cross. As I said, we’re just at the beginning of our effort, and it is our intention to support the rest of the USG team and the government of Pakistan through this very difficult time. Thank you.



Question 1: Thank you very much sir. My question is that you have given different (inaudible) and different sectors. Is there any consolidated figure (inaudible) what has been the total aid received from the US . And secondly after the proposals by President General Musharraf of allowing Kashmiris across the LOC, the focus a little bit seems in Washington about Pak-Indo (inaudible) rather than our relief and reconstruction and rehabilitation. Thank you.



Ambassador Crocker: In response to the first, we do try to put out a consolidated picture of our overall assistance but at this stage we are far more interested in getting the assistance out than we are in figuring out exactly how much it is. For example, the assistance that is going forward on the military side which is very, very substantial, to this point has not been monetized. That is why I am talking in terms of amounts rather than dollar values. We do put out I think now, a daily summary of what we have done. I’ll take a look at that and be sure it’s as consolidated as it can be, but again right now we are far more interested in just getting the relief out. We will figure out what it adds up to later. That’s kind of, I guess, a response on the second part of the second question.



Clearly, we would all like to see good things come of this awful disaster that has struck Kashmir so hard, as well as the Northwest Frontier Province . And there have been some encouraging things said, I think in both India and Pakistan . All of that said, I think again what we have to be focused on here is, certainly for the United States, what we can do to assist the government of Pakistan in dealing with a critical human crisis, and we’ll deal with the other stuff later.



Question 2: My name is Tran, I’m with the AP. I wanted to ask a little bit more about the military assistance. When Secretary of State Rice was here she promised that more military aid, specifically helicopters, would be coming in. Can you give us what the current status is on that, how many helicopters are coming, where they’re coming from. Thank you, Admiral.



Admiral Lefever: We are providing, as the Ambassador said, we have 12 US helicopters on the ground currently -- medium and heavy lift and some utility aircraft. We are currently flowing in over 20 more helicopters expected to arrive shortly. They are being brought in, and in fact, from all around the world. This group is coming from Air National Guard Units, from the United States . So they are being flown into Afghanistan and are being assembled because they needed to be broken down on the aircraft. They are being assembled in Afghanistan and then when they are fully assembled and ready for flight they will be moving down. We expect to see 4 of those coming by the middle of next week, and shortly thereafter some several more aircraft. We currently have 9 aircraft on the ground in Afghanistan in various stages of being assembled, and preparations to be flown here to Islamabad .



Question 3: I also wondered if you could make any statement at all about what you think has been your assessment of the speed of the relief. We’ve already heard from a number of people about obviously the difficulty in reaching some of the terrain. Obviously I’ve heard concern from a lot of people that aid isn’t getting there fast enough, I mean obviously the supplies are coming in, you just can’t get them out into some of these more remote areas. Can you comment on that?



Ambassador Crocker: Yes, it’s part of the compounded tragedy here. The scale of it is, of course, devastating enough but the fact that it occurred in relatively inaccessible areas has made it that much harder and I think all of you who have been here have seen something of this; there is no human agency or agencies on earth that can manage, or could manage, immediate delivery of relief supplies to all those who need it. You cannot get there from here in that kind of comprehensive way. That said, clearly the Pakistani government and its international supporters are working the problem and working it effectively.



Helicopters are pushing out to more and more remote areas. They are doing so at real risk and we saw how great that risk can be with the loss of a Pakistani helicopter and its crew several days ago. It’s a formidable challenge. We have seen, and I was briefed on this yesterday, that the Federal Relief Cell and the Pakistani army are sending dismounted troops and mules into the remoter valleys where the terrain is too difficult even for helicopters to land. General Farooq briefed us yesterday on a major ground operation – of several thousand soldiers and mules to bring in supplies and literally carrying casualties out on the backs of soldiers. So it’s again, the terrain has been an enemy. In many respects just as the earthquake itself has. There is a sustained coordinated effort to overcome that, but it takes far more time than any of us would like to see.



Question 4: Could you tell us, is the United States sending any seismic experts or geologists to help Pakistan find the details about the seismic activity?



Ambassador Crocker: I mentioned that we expect to be a part of the reconstruction efforts just as we have been a part of this relief effort. We have already had some discussions with the Pakistani authorities for this next phase. Clearly we and they are focused on that, how reconstruction takes place in an active seismic area. How do you site new construction? How is it engineered? How is it built? So this is in play. Clearly we are not at the point yet where it would make a lot of sense to send out seismic teams for reconstruction when we are so deeply engaged in relief. But we will be there for that. We are coordinating with others with experience, for example the Japanese, as to how we might best combine our efforts to bring the best seismic advice to the table when the moment is right.

World Bank awards Pakistan $470 million (euro391 million) for earthquake reconstructi
 

.c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The World Bank announced a $470 million aid package Tuesday to help Pakistan rebuild from the destruction wrought by this month's deadly earthquake.

``The scale of this disaster is really unimaginable, and the problems that survivors are facing in worsening weather conditions are frightening,'' said World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.

The Oct. 8 earthquake, which killed about 80,000 people, has left an estimated 3.3 million homeless.

Despite a huge international relief effort, fears are growing about these people as the weather turns colder. Temperatures dropped as low as -1.11 degrees C. (30 F.) in the mountains Tuesday, dangerous weather for those left outdoors.

The Pakistani government welcomed the World Bank's action.

``The speed and scale of this commitment is exactly what Pakistan needs right now,'' said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The 184-nation World Bank's mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in poor countries. It lends about $20 billion (euro16.6 billion) a year for various projects.

On the Net:

World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/



10/25/05 18:22 EDT

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

assalamaoalukum,

disgusting bast.... these Indians really are. While we are facing a crisis, they are relentlessely trying to get political milage out of this tragedy. First Helicopters fiasco, then weapons of mass destruction crap, and now LOC hospitals. Go to BBC site and you will see a pic of so called hospital. It looks more like a wedding tent with a big banner at the front saying: Indian army welcomes yoy to a relief crap......
Its like people who raped and tortured are now pretending to be healers....

Saudi Arabia diverts all jumbo cargo to Pakistan
 

ISLAMABAD (October 26 2005): The government of Saudi Arabia has diverted all Saudi airliners, operating jumbo cargo world-wide, to Pakistan to airlift 30,000 tents to the quake-ravaged areas, Ambassador Awad Al Asseri said on Tuesday.

Talking to APP, he said all jumbo cargo operations of the Saudi Airlines throughout the world had been halted and flights were diverted to Pakistan for one week.

The Jumbo cargo flights would operate between Jeddah and Pakistan to deliver tents.

Saudi Arabia has generously supported rescue and relief efforts in Pakistan in the wake of October 8 quake that has killed over 53,000 people.

The King has set up an air-bridge to ensure uninterrupted supply of relief goods to Pakistan.

The country has also made cash contribution of 133 million dollars for the relief efforts.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005

Jordan plans telethon to raise aid for quake victims
 

AMMAN (October 26 2005): Jordan's state television will hold a telethon on Friday to raise funds for the victims of Pakistan's massive earthquake, Religious Affairs Minister Abdel Salam Abbadi said on Tuesday.

State television will kick off the telethon after Friday's mid-day Muslim prayers, Abbadi said in statements to Petra news agency, urging donors to be generous.

He said they were looking for financial aid as well as tents, blankets, foodstuff, medicine, medical equipment and new clothes.

The telethon will be organised by the Hashemite Charitable Organisation at the request of King Abdullah II, who visited Pakistan on October 14 becoming the first head of state to travel to the quake-stricken country, Abbadi said.

Jordan was among the first countries to send aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of the deadly October 8 earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people and left over three million people homeless.

Jordan sent two planes of relief goods to its fellow Muslim country along with a 25-bed mobile hospital with a 50-strong staff.

On Saturday oil-rich Saudi Arabia also launched a major drive that raised millions of dollars in donations for the earthquake survivors.

UN relief officials have pleaded for more international aid, warning that the shortfall in aid made the situation worse than after the Indian Ocean tsunami last year.

Donor nations are due to meet on Wednesday in Switzerland.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005

Greek medical team helping quake victims
 

RECORDER REPORT
RAWALPINDI (October 26 2005): A four-member Greek medical team consisting of medical experts and surgeons is working in the calamity-hit areas while two members of the team are active at PIMS Islamabad in surgeries.

The Greek team arrived on the invitation of the Minhaj Welfare Foundation (MWF).

Dr Koustanity Grigoropoulos and Dr George told a press conference on Monday at Rawalpindi Press Club about their services to mitigate the sufferings of the persons injured by the calamity.

Dr Koustanity, who came to town after visiting devastating earthquake areas, told reporters that he along with three other doctors came to Pakistan to help the humanity on the invitation of Minhaj Welfare Foundation. "I never saw such a dreadful condition of the people in my whole life, which I saw in AJK and Hazara. It is a really great challenge for the whole World to help affectees with heart and soul", he added.

He said that they could manage to collect 40,000 Felbos (Greek currency) and medicines of 14000 Felbos in just three days before coming to Pakistan. The Embassy of Pakistan in Athens also helped them a lot in documentation, he added.

Director Minhaj Welfare Foundation Sajid Mehmood Bhatti also spoke.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005

Turkish students donate $10 million
 

ANKARA (October 26 2005): Joining a wave of solidarity and support for Pakistan that has swept across Turkey in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake, Turkish students have raised $10 million as relief assistance for the quake victims.

The campaign of the Turkish students is not over yet and is likely to add substantially to the amount in a manifestation of indelible bonds of close relationship between the two countries.

Turkish Education Minister, Hussain Chelik has informed his Pakistani counterpart Javed Ashraf Qazi that this gesture of the university, college and school students signifies Turkey's sharing of sufferings of the quake victims and carrying over of warm relationship to next generations of the two countries.

Chelik's Ministry had moved immediately after the October 8 earthquake writing letters to students' parents for immediate collection of donations.

The letters reminded the parents that Turkey was eternally indebted to Pakistan for its invaluable support to them during the war of independence motivating students and evoking an overwhelming response from the cross-section of Turkish society.

Pakistan's ambassador to Ankara, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah revealed the outpouring of sympathy by the Turkish people since October 8's deadly quake.

"I have never witnessed anything like that in my life, each Turkish heart is grieved and pulsating with support for Pakistan," he told APP.

Turkey will also send a team of experts to help assess ways to raise quakeproof infrastructure in the wrecked region. This step is being viewed as a great help for Pakistan, which has to mount daunting reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the mountainous areas sprawling over more than 20,000 sq km.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

It is our main duty to help our Pakistan brother. In our opinion, Turkish aid in short and middle term will exceed over 300 ml. Then construction,rebuilding affairs will begin. Totally, 700 ml-1,5 bl dollars. We (Turkish people) dont forget aids from Pakistan people in our independence war against England-France-Scotland-Ireland-New Zealand-OZ-Greece...




regards,
Oguz_Khan

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Doctor treks to aid quake victims
A doctor who went to Pakistan to help victims of the earthquake has described how he treated people by torchlight and helped rescue 105 families in a week.
Anaesthetist Dr Mohammud Nasir, from the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Beds, expected to work in a field hospital in Balakot at the heart of the disaster.

Instead, in response to the pleas of desperate villagers, he and two colleagues went into the mountains.

Now back in the UK, Dr Nasir is continuing fundraising for victims.

He has been inspired by the experiences he and two colleagues had after arriving in the capital Islamabad with equipment and medicines donated by their own hospitals.


There were many more people with fractured limbs that we could not help much
Anaesthetist Dr Mohammud Nasir

When they reached Balakot they found help was already there.

"There wasn't anything left, all the houses were down and I was told almost 90% of the people had been killed," he said.

"There were camps after camps after camps and ambulances after ambulances."

But when villagers begged them to head up with them to help the casualties still cut off, the three began a 45 kilometre trek at altitude - a journey which took 17 hours and for which they were ill-prepared.

As fast as they could climb they met a steady flow of casualties risking the journey down and at one point the exhausted team was forced to camp on the mountain overnight.

The site they chose was lost in a landslide 24 hours later.


When they finally reached the villages where they were needed most they found people were already waiting for them.

"The patients were already gathering as soon as we got there and we started seeing them and kept on through the night as much as we could with the limited lights and torches we had with us," said Dr Nasir.

"We were stitching people's head wound, arms, legs, giving them antibiotics and painkillers but there were many more people with fractured limbs that we could not help much."

One little girl's leg was so badly infected that eventually it had to be amputated.

For Dr Nasir the seven days in the quake zone just the start of his work to help the victims.



Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ts/4376888.stm

Published: 2005/10/26 03:08:48 GMT

© BBC MMV

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Compare this to the huge relief effort by Pakistan military & civil society.............



Quake survivors in IoK still left out in the cold


URI (updated on: October 26, 2005, 12:29 PST): Indian quake survivor Altaf Hussein's patience has worn thin. Every day for the past 10 days he has queued for kerosene from government trucks, and every day he has gone back empty-handed.

As winter closes in, villagers like Hussein say little or no relief has reached this devastated mountain region -- which accounted for more than half of the 1,300 deaths from an October 8 earthquake in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

Tens of thousands more died in the Azad Kashmir.

"In this town, people are talking about non-availability of blankets and food," said Hussein, wearing old woollen clothes against the bitterly cold winds sweeping across the Himalayan peaks.

"Look at this long line of people waiting for days to get basic kerosene to cook food and burn firewood to keep us warm."

In this town, where 90 per cent of houses were levelled, Hussein was one of more than 100 men with empty cans lining up near a government fuel truck, hoping that luck would favour them.

Though the trucks began arriving 10 days ago, they have only brought a limited supply of kerosene.

Water and food are also in short supply, but fuel is an especially pressing issue here, at 3,000 metres' (10,000 feet) altitude, where most villagers now sleep in open fields or tents often crowded with more than 10 people.

"I have a ration card," Hussein shouted, as other villagers joined in. "I am not one of those people who want something, which is not legal... It has been 10 long days. Where is the administration? What are they doing?"

The government acknowledges the scale of the disaster in the worst-hit districts of Uri and Tangdhar, in IoK's northwest, where it says 90 percent of the 40,720 homes were destroyed.

The state government has promised 100,000 rupees (2,200 dollars) to the families of those killed by the killer quake, and 60,000 rupees to those who lost their homes.

Bashir Runyal, Urri's relief commissioner, dismissed the villagers' allegations as "totally baseless" and said "relief has reached the nook and corner of the mountains".

"Those areas which were not reachable earlier have also been reached," he told AFP. "More than 30 million rupees have been disbursed in Uri for relief along with 2,000 tents and 70,000 blankets."

The government was now in the process of constructing 31 large community halls to accommodate the survivors in the harsh winter days ahead, he said.

"We are doing that on a war-footing, and by November 15 all the monetary disbursements will be complete."

But despite the promises, villagers say they have seen little aid so far.

"Except for the 11 kilograms (24.2 pounds) of rice, which we got a week ago, not a single penny has reached us," said shoe dealer Mohammad Baig, whose house was destroyed by the quake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

"Not one government official came here to assess the damage and to rebuild the houses," said Baig, who now shares a tent with his six brothers. "In this area all my brothers' houses were also flattened."

Many villagers have taken matters into their own hands. Children, sitting on wooden beams recovered from the debris, were watching their uncles dismantling windows and hammering down damaged walls to gain materials for new homes.

But for now, most live in tents, if they can get them.

"We got the tent just because my brother is a soldier and the army was engaged in the relief operations," Baig said. "Most others are unlucky.

"In this small tent, 10 members of my family cannot sleep," he added. "So we are awake the whole night braving the cold."

Villager Fareed Ahmedar said he feared the worst was yet to come.

"Look at the mountain peaks," he said. "Snowfall has started there. "We are just weeks from another disaster as people are living in makeshift tents, in fields and without proper food, sanitation or medical facilities. "The poor will perish."



Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2005

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

$12bn plan for reconstruction




By Ihtasham ul Haque

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The government is working on a $10-12 billion reconstruction plan for the quake-stricken regions of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP. Official sources told Dawn on Tuesday that the government would arrange about 45 per cent funding (roughly $5 billion) for the plan which is expected to be submitted to the president and the prime minister on November 15 for approval.

The government expects that a donors’ conference being held in Geneva on Wednesday will contribute substantial grants to help Pakistan rebuild roads, bridges, schools and colleges, hospitals, government offices and villages in the quake-hit areas.

The sources said that pledges of about $1.2 billion had been made and the government was expecting $4 billion from international donors and bilateral creditors before the end of November to effectively execute the plan.

The remaining amount of about $8 billion, the sources said, was likely to come from private sector in the country and abroad. The government wants this funding to be used to improve housing and tourism facilities, including development of quality hotels, motels and apartments, in Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

The first damage assessment report being prepared jointly by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be ready by the 5th of next month.

The sources said that former US president Bill Clinton, who had started raising funds and donations on the pattern of his campaign for tsunami victims, had expressed his readiness to introduce inexpensive technology for rapid house-building in Pakistan.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

A tragic perspective



Iftikhar Ahmad

After the devastation of the earthquake finally revealed its true, horrific consequence, the idea that we were in the middle of an unprecedented human tragedy finally sank in. With mammoth rescue and relief efforts fully underway to try and deal with the widespread desperation, the many of us that watched television and read the newspapers remained engulfed in anxiety and emotional shock at the stories of human suffering. What else can we feel but sorrow? What else can we utter but words of sympathy? Well, whilst the dust was still settling on the rubble in Balakot and Muzaffarabad, some took it upon themselves as their duty to target the authorities for their perceived culpability in the calamity.

The current mode of cynicism adopted by our people is all too familiar and hackneyed a reaction, at a time when a far greater perspective is needed. The earthquake, 7.6 on the Richter scale, should have provided that much-needed perspective to our people and their so-called leaders. However, the knee-jerk response has now taken precedence over the people's desire for unity and bridge-building (both literally and figuratively). Are we seriously looking to attach blame to the armed forces when a natural disaster has struck our land in this way? An act of God which the World Health Organization has described as "worse than the tsunami" has crippled the Kashmir and Frontier regions and brought down the Margalla Towers in Islamabad. To many it seemed like the end of the world had arrived.

But now, with the immediate vantage point of hindsight, voices that were silent and then trembling have now begun debating and accusing. Pens that shook when trying to write what was actually happening, are now being dipped in more poisonous inkpots. In all the posturing and taking of sides, those that were actually thrust into the impossible task of responding to the disaster, the military, are once again chanted against as the perceived enemy within.

This is unacceptable. It is almost as inappropriate as the looting of dead people that we are reading about in Azad Kashmir. How easy it is for us to sit in our homes, acknowledge the sheer scale of the devastation and then apportion blame to those that are making efforts to discharge the responsibility.

Of course, no response time was going to be quick enough and no advance far enough. The president apologised and openly accepted the slow response time in getting rescue and relief out to the affected areas, but the honest-to-God truth is that nobody could assess the actual extent of the damage within the first day of the earthquake. Currently, the situation is getting graver still as death tolls rise and displaced numbers increase exponentially. Does this mean the UN's estimate of last week is negligent or that a couple of rescue helicopters sent immediately by the UK is now somehow a criminal lack of investment? Of course not. A disaster on this scale usually means that all bets are off. The tsunami disaster and Hurricane Katrina are evidence of the near impossibility of immediate relief action on the part of any government or agency, no matter how well equipped. To make matters far worse, we are all aware of the difficulty of reaching the cut off terrain of Azad Kashmir, a problem that is continuously challenging and hard to overcome.

This kind of logic seems to be evading opposition politicians, maligning critics and the more cynical amongst us. Regardless of whether the head of state was a general or a civilian, the same army would have been mobilised to deal with the disaster. Do we believe that a Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif would have shown clairvoyant skills and a superman-like response that was deemed to be somehow lacking from our prime minister and president? Are we in the hands of a malicious, negligent and immoral regime that seeks to deliberately hold back in trying to save its people from death and destruction? What nonsense. Why are we constantly trying to draw lines between the victims and the unaffected, the poor and the rich, the civilian and the military, when in human suffering these demarcations are pathetically futile? Hundreds of army soldiers died in the earthquake and many have been injured in rescue and relief efforts. They are no different from the innocent children and women that perished through no fault of their own. They are not the other side but the same family that we belong to. The same disaster has affected us all and the only serious distinction that is worth drawing right now is between the cynical and the hopeful.

In reality, the earthquake has become the greatest humanitarian challenge ever faced by our armed forces. They are far from perfect because we are far from perfect. But if they are trying their utmost, then we have reason to be hopeful and resilient. In this incredible test, an army that has always been geared up for enemy attack rather than natural disaster is in the thick of it. Divisions have been set up in Azad Kashmir, thousands of supplies and blankets delivered, rescues are still being made and lives saved. Several thousand wounded victims have been shifted from the quake-hit regions to hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This was done with the airlift capability of 44 helicopters. This is only a part of the wider, far-flung effort to try and deal with the severity of the situation. A brigadier was assisting and directing the rescue and relief work after having attended the funeral of his own son, who died in the earthquake.

For those addicted to criticism, ask yourselves this the next time you wish to join the chant against the army. Why have private traders removed tents from their shelves, hiked prices for any item of transport or supply to do with the relief effort? Why did politicians display pin-drop silence when it was suggested that they direct their welfare funds towards the affected? While many have displayed courage and sacrifice, in some urban areas people are indulging in Eid preparations as well. We are both helpless and guilty in our own ways.

Meanwhile, a six-year-old girl was stuck under a cupboard for nine days in the mountains near Balakot. She was pulled out from the rubble by army jawans and is now in stable condition. In the middle of such a hellish natural disaster, action is vastly more crucial than words anyway. There is a time for grinding axes and a time for unity, faith and discipline. Those that seek to belittle the men and women who are engaged in fixing this nightmare should be ashamed of themselves.



The writer is a barrister and former Senator

Email: iftikharahmad@hotmail.com

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

An email that was forwarded to me about someone's own experience during the EQ:

Its basically a letter written by one of the sisters in Pakistan to a friend/relative in Romania:

My dearest xxxxx,

What you want me to do is awfully difficult as thoughts and images are flashing thru my mind. More importantly I want to forget that ill-fated day of the earthquake, the likes of which I have never felt before. But I will try to convey to you my feelings and stories of some of the others who have suffered terribly.

Samir and I awoke early that Saturday, he to play Play station and I had to do laundry. I knew it was about a quarter to nine. I was standing when suddenly I felt the cold marble floor beneath me start to move. Simultaneously, there was a deep, loud rumbling sound as if coming deep from somewhere inside the earth. It sounded deafening to my ears. And then everything started to rattle and shake. This entire concrete house I was in was shaking so fiercely that I thought it was the end of time. I collapsed to the floor in a shock and started praying Inna lillahi wa inna alaihi rajioon. Samir began to scream earthquake and urged me to move. I couldn’t. I was paralyzed with fear. I knew my husband rushed out of the room and my daughter ran out of the room screaming. We were all in our pajamas. Abid’s voice was like cold water splashed on me, and they literally dragged me with them down the stairs. The stairs were shaking horribly, we couldn’t get down fast enough. I grabbed some clothes that were meant to be ironed to cover myself. My daughter shrieked that she couldn’t go out in her nightie. If it hadn’t been for Abid, we would have been more concerned about our modesty than our lives. We ran out of the house. I could hear things crashing inside.

I don’t know when I had started to cry and kept begging Allah to make this stop. I kept asking Him for forgiveness and I couldn’t stop crying. My legs were barely holding me. The children were terrified. We could see the chandeliers and fans swinging, like a child’s swing when it is abandoned by the child. The Earthquake wouldn’t stop…it kept going on endlessly. It seemed like a lifetime until it stopped. All the time I kept thinking what will happen to my children if this house collapses. Where will we go? We have no money with us and we are dressed in PJs We didn’t even have our car keys on us.

Finally it stopped. I walked in. My vases, decorative plates, candle stand were all shattered. The chandeliers were still swinging; the fan had dislodged from its regular spot. We were terrified and tentatively went up the stairs. We changed our clothes crying all the while. Our legs wouldn’t hold us. Then my driver called me on the cell phone. He was hysterical. I asked him if he was alright. His concern was for us. Right at that moment I felt it! The generosity of spirit that is so familiar in every one of my people. He told me Margalla Towers had collapsed. We used to live there 2 years ago and had friends still living there. We rushed there. Please note that this within a span of 5 minutes of the EQ. We got to Margalla within 10 mins. It was a devastating sight and absolutely terrifying. My children were crying as their Quran teacher lived there and they were so worried about her.

Already the army helicopters were landing there; the police was controlling traffic; ordinary citizens had rushed in to help with the rescue as the army jawans had arrived. To say that the government didn’t care is a gross misrepresentation of facts. Everyone was lending a hand. We were unable to get near the apartments as the police had set up blockades so that emergency vehicles could reach the injured. We rushed away to enquire about other family members.

When my driver finally got home to us, he was almost shell shocked, covered in blood and dust, and had an injured leg. Abid wanted to take him to the doctor. He refused saying his need was nothing compared to the others. I know of many others like him, the army jawans who are working round the clock in relief ops, rescuing children from the debris all over the north of Pakistan; the Air Force doctors who have no idea when the day turns into night and vice versa and the navy whose hospitals are overflowing with the injured and maimed. Oblivious to their own need, hungry and thirsty in the month of Ramadan doing everything to save lives just to please Allah. They are our unsung heroes, who have laid down their lives for us. They don’t ask for anything in return, they don’t do this for self glorification; the media is in fact cruel enough to encourage negative propaganda against them.

How dare they? How dare the media try to play God and pass judgment on these men. They should do their job with justice and help out instead of criticizing these men and spreading mischief in the world. Don’t anyone criticize my countrymen. Our hearts bleed for our brothers and sisters who have lost everything; their families, their homes, their livelihood…everything!

The need of the hour is to get together and overcome this test that Allah has sent upon us. Lets see how many affluent nations stand by us, the poor innocent people of Pakistan. We who still have our homes have opened the doors for the homeless. People are assisting every which way they can. Even children are giving away their clothes, toys, pocket money down to the last rupee. Go to the hospitals, they are thronged with volunteers…under 17. Don’t ask about the adults. We have people trying to load trucks and go to far flung areas in the mountains, where even under normal circumstances there is no access.

Don’t criticize us for the looting that is taking place. It is a matter of survival for most people. Its easy to say “what a nation of thieves” when you are safely ensconced in your safe and beautiful homes. Don’t forget New Orleans after Katrina..and THAT is the richest nation in the world. Feel for my people. They are homeless. One man told my husband and I quote “ Sir, a man can lose all his worldly possessions, he can go hungry and so can his children. But how can I explain to you my destitution and helplessness with no shelter over my head. What do I tell my children. I am their father, I am supposed to provide for them”

Right after the EQ came the rain and hail bringing with it a sharp plunge in the temperature. In the village of Buffa, old and young spent the night outdoors. It was cold and raining. The wrath of God seemed unleashed upon the as the hail stones started falling, cold and hard like a slap in the face. For the children the nightmare had just begun. They desperately need tents, warm clothes, and blankets. One mother wailed that the dead were better off than the living.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

We all talk of getting aid from here and there and complain about who is not giving what. We do need all the help we can get, but nobody says that we cannot do it ourselves as well. We need external help with what we cannot provide ourselves such as technology and machinery but the resolve has to come from us.

apart from immediate short term concerns about shelter, food and medicine, what is it what we cannot do ourselves from pakistan? Why can't we raise enough money to rebuild the devastated lives of our brethren. remember, they are not apart from us but a part of our body. Just like we tend to our injured body till healed, why can't we raise funds ourselves till their lives have some semblence of stability though it will take a generation or two to get life bakc to normalcy there . We don't have to raise the money all at once. The reconstruction will take years. Can't we raise a few billion dollars worth in rupees? We ( as in people) don't lack the resources or the money. so instead of whining about what is being pledged for us, let us change our tune and declare with confidence that we are upto the task and we shall overcome.
I know that most people here and elsewhere will say that right now the sympathy factor is high and everyone in Pakistan is doing their bit but soon people will forget and let the affected people languish and eventually abused. Well, let's pledge not to let that happen.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Daily Times - Site Edition Thursday, October 27, 2005


Up to 2.2m children severely affected

* 1,500 metric tonnes of sewage entering environment daily
* More than 120,000 children wait for aid

By Ghafar Ali

PESHAWAR: The lack of treatment for many of the October 8 earthquake victims combined with water shortage and poor sanitation facilities and deteriorating weather conditions will increase fatalities in the coming days.

Official earthquake casualty figures have risen dramatically in the past few days, with the official estimated death toll reaching nearly 54,000 with over 75,000 injured and an estimated 3.3 million people left homeless. As critically injured patients in remote mountain villages fail to reach or be reached by medical help, they remain vulnerable to the dropping temperatures, without shelter or food.

According UNICEF statistics, approximately 1.6 to 2.2 million children are severely affected and are at particular risk, facing a deadly combination of cold, malnutrition and disease. More than 120,000 children are as yet un-approached in mountain villages.

The UN agency called for the continuing need for emergency medical and surgical care and the evacuation of critically injured patients alongside efforts to combat tetanus, wound sepsis and gangrene among badly injured patients. Although more than 2,500 patients have been evacuated from the NWFP alone, field hospitals must be set up in remote areas for emergency surgical care.

UNICEF officials said measles poses one of the greatest threats to child survival in emergency situations, especially when immune systems have been weakened by exposure and malnutrition. There is concern over an expected outbreak of measles in Balakot and Battagram. With routine immunisation programmes disrupted, there are now huge challenges in terms of cold chain maintenance, vaccination teams and logistics. The prevention of an outbreak of disease among the affected population is another bridge to be crossed.

With the collapse of water and sanitation systems, there are currently some 4,000,000 individuals defecating in the open which means 1,500 metric tons of sewage is entering the environment each day, placing communities at high risk of an outbreak of infectious disease.

Heavy rains have resulted in the flooding of tents and thousands of people, especially children are damp, cold and exposed to the elements, placing them at high risk of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI).

For the pregnant women in the affected areas, the organisation of essential obstetric care and Emergency Obstetric and Neo-natal Care (EMONC) services for complicated cases is a top priority for UNICEF, to save their lives and those of the newborn children.

The fund’s mid to long term health concerns include managing emotional and physical trauma, particularly for children, the rehabilitation of physically handicapped children, the rebuilding of damaged health facilities and the recruitment of key medical staff.

Immediately following the earthquake, the UNICEF conducted rapid assessments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the NWFP. As a result, the UNICEF immediately dispatched field missions to the two affected areas.

In response to the multitude of critical health issues, UNICEF is providing essential drugs to one million people for 3 months, cold chain equipment to support the vaccination of 4 million children and is setting up 4 basic health units in partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services in Araja near Bagh, Dupatta Garhi and Garhi Habibullah in AJK and Battagram.

It has also provided 1.2 million Tetanus vaccinations for injured children and adults, facilitating a training programme for nurses on post-operative wound care in collaboration with a German medical NGO at the district headquarter hospital in Mansehra, training pharmacy staff at Mansehra District Hospital and coordinating with PIMS hospital and the UN Field Coordination in Muzaffarabad and Mansehra for the helicopter airlift of critically ill children.

The fund is supporting the Health Ministry in setting up a system to track children and other patients who have been evacuated from the affected areas and providing warm sweaters to children to mitigate ARI. For the prevention of disease outbreak, UNICEF has prepared micro plans for measles immunisation campaign, vaccinators have been identified and mobilised and others are being trained as vaccinators in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad. They are mobilising the community to support vaccination efforts in Kala Dhakka, in the tribal areas of the AJK, providing guidelines on immunisation to all partners in the UNDAC Health Cluster so that the vaccination teams can coordinate with them in the field and they are providing Vitamin-A supplements to 300,000 children.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Asalaamo-a-laikum.


Update on the earthquake in Pakistan

24 Oct 2005

The death toll is now over 53,000 with 75,000 critically injured.

Relief operations have been accelerated in earthquake-hit areas.

Several tonnes of food, tents, blankets and medicines are being sent to the quake-hit areas by helicopters from Chaklala Airbase.

A tent village comprising 200 tents has been established in Muzaffarabad city.

Around 10,000 survivors have been accommodated in tent villages of Garhi Habibullah, Shinkiari, Batagram and Balakot sectors and are being provided with meals, medicines and other facilities.

A total of 30,000 tents and 300,000 blankets were dispatched to affected areas of AJK and NWFP, while over 3,000 tents and 68,000 blankets are available at PAF Base Chaklala.

Over the last 24 hours, nine vehicles of relief goods were distributed in district Shangla in NWFP.

72 helicopter sorties undertook relief and rescue operations, evacuating 104 casualties and transporting 10,610 kg of relief goods in Batgram, Kala Dhaka, Balakot, Alai Shinkiari, Battal, Chattar Plain, Serian, Sanghai, Bunja, Jured, Kaghan, Naran and Ghari Habib Ullah.

Army Engineers have launched a Bailey Bridge (BB) on Sairi Nullah near Hattian Bala in Jhelum Valley which can sustain one way heavy traffic.

Intense efforts are underway to open Ellahi Road in NWFP which was once opened but re-blocked after yesterday’s aftershock.

Muzaffarabad has 100% electricity and 80% water supply restoration.

Tonnes of relief goods were dropped by military aircraft and helicopters to inaccessible areas including Neza Pir, Forward Kahuta, Sarari and surrounding areas in Bagh valley.

PIA has flown around 400 tonnes of relief cargo from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow to Pakistan. PIA plans to fly 220 tonnes of relief assistance to Pakistan this week.

Schools in earthquake affected areas will start functioning next week.

Several serious patients continue to be shifted to hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic Hospital) is providing medical treatment to 1,333 earthquake-victims including 433 children. Polyclinic has been receiving around 100 patients per day and has so far operated on 443 patients.

1,300 medical teams were providing medical relief to the earthquake-hit areas of the NWFP.

At Mobile Surgical team in the Government College Bagh, 38 minor and 2 major operations were performed, while 486 outdoor patients were provided necessary treatment.

In District Rawalkot, 24 minor and 2 major operations were performed by doctors and paramedics while 315 patients were treated and provided necessary medication.

Various volunteer medical teams have also set up field hospitals in far flung areas of District Bagh and Rawlakot.

Pakistan has received over 15,000 doses of anti-tetanus globulin (ATG) required for injured patients who have already contracted the tetanus infection.

3,000 foreign aid missions have so far reached Pakistan bringing medical and paramedical teams, rescue and relief workers, field hospitals and tents.

The UNHCR has brought 15,000 tents, 220,000 blankets, 68,794 plastic sheets, 500 plastic rolls, 31,840 kitchen sets, 2,000 stoves and 5,000 lanterns. The agency appealed the international community for an additional US $ 22 million to manage temporary camps for displaced people.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Update on the Earthquake in Pakistan

26 Oct 2005


The death toll is now 53,932 while the number of injured is 77,625.

The government has set aside RS 75 million for immediate disbursal to injured patients from the quake-hit areas presently admitted in the civil and military hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

A special cell has been set up in the Prime Minister Secretariat to monitor and improve relief activities.

The earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation authority will assess damages and will work under a seven member council with the Prime Minister as chairman.

A village consisting of 500 tents equipped with all basic facilities including water, electricity, sanitation, education and health has been established in Langra near Havelian, Abbotabad.

59,381 tents and 481,805 blankets were dispatched to quake hit areas.

10,778 tonnes of rations and 574 tonnes of medicines were distributed.

Helicopters have so far made 2,956 sorties for transporting injured and relief goods.
The United States is sending six more helicopters to Pakistan.

Two major roads in Muzaffabad and Bagh have been opened. Army engineers were 17 km away from Chakoti and had cleared a total of 39 km up to Hatian Balla last evening.

The army has established a mule track in Neelum Valley up to Dewian. All other roads in Mansehra and Balakot sectors have been opened for all types of traffic.

In Bagh and Rawlakot, several roads have been opened for all types of traffic.

Besides, providing financial support, a number of foreign countries have sent relief goods amounting to 2,100 tons, including food, medicines, cloth, water, and miscellaneous items. This is in addition to relief supplies including 34,536 tents and 336,760 blankets.

A number of NGOs and international agencies are also providing relief. These include ICRC teams from Belgium and Holland, FAO/IFAD, 11 French NGOs, Medicines Sans Frontiers, NATO, OIC, Swiss Agency for International Development Cooperation (SDC) and Geneva Humanitarian Assistance Coordination.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will help the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education in tracing the families of the unattended children.

At present over 810 doctors and paramedics from friendly countries are active in the quake affected areas.

The Armed forces' medical teams made up of 125 doctors and 350 paramedics have spread out in the quake-stricken region. The Military Hospitals at Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Jehlum, Kharian, Mangla, Lahore, Gujranwala and Karachi have been providing medical treatment to the critically injured people evacuated from the quake zone.

Almost 21,250 injured were evacuated to these hospitals by the helicopters of Army Aviation and from friendly countries.

From Punjab and Sindh around 1,000 volunteer doctors and paramedical staff are working in quake-afflicted areas. The Government has imported around 250,000 doses of anti-tetanus and measles vaccines.

A camp has been set up to treat women and children. A group of twenty five volunteers will be trained and dispatched to the worst hit areas.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has handled 465 landings of international relief flights at Islamabad Airport since Oct 9.

Five pre-fabricated steel structure schools will start functioning in Balakot and its surrounding areas from 28th October. 20 more schools will start functioning in November.

Three of the six mobile companies operating in the country have launched their services in Muzaffarabad and other parts of Azad Kashmir.

Efforts are being made to hold an International Conference in Islamabad assessing and finalizing plans for recovery and reconstruction.

The Pakistani Meteorological Department will hold a three day international conference on "Earthquake Processes and Seismic Hazards".

Khushhali Bank is launching a rehabilitation programme worth Rs. 3 billion for the people of quake-hit areas to start new businesses and for expansion of existing businesses. 500,000 people of the affected areas should benefit from this scheme.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

The article below appeared in the LA Times last Sunday, 23rd October.

Time to help an ally in need

Pakistan is desperate for aid after a killer quake. The U.S. should seize the chance to assist a country on the front lines of the war on terror.

By Anatol Lieven and Rajan Menon
ANATOL LIEVEN is a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. RAJAN MENON, also a senior fellow at the foundation, is a professor of international relations at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania.
October 23, 2005
THE OCT. 8 earthquake that crushed northern Pakistan has given the Bush administration a chance to repeat its successful response to the tsunami in Asia: Deliver substantial assistance, save lives and have a major political impact.
What the administration did then — after initial criticism for pledging a paltry sum of aid — was morally commendable. It was also strategically astute. If success in the struggle against terrorism requires that the United States win friends in the Islamic world, then helping Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic country and a key U.S. ally in the struggle against terrorism — was surely a sensible way to go about it.
By contrast, the administration's response in Pakistan has been inadequate at best. This is strange. Pakistan is on the front lines in the war on terrorism. The quake has killed at least 50,000 of its people. In a remote mountainous area, with winter coming, about 2.5 million people are homeless. The World Food Program estimates that half a million have yet to receive any food deliveries. There is a desperate shortage of tents. There are also far too few helicopters to deliver essential supplies. The U.N. has received less than 25% of the funds it needs in Pakistan.
Surely it's obvious what the administration should do. Yet apart from a fly-in to Pakistan by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, its response has so far been pitiful.
The U.S. has pledged only $50 million in aid, a tiny fraction of what it is capable of providing. According to USAID, as of Oct. 17, nine days after the earthquake struck, the U.S. military had flown only 168 helicopter sorties to the affected areas. It can certainly do much more in a country next door to Afghanistan and near the Persian Gulf, where substantial U.S. airborne forces are deployed.
This anaemic reaction is obtuse. Apart from Iraq and Afghanistan, no country is more critical to the war on terror than Pakistan. With more than 150 million people, Pakistan has almost as large a population as the entire Arab world. Islamist extremists have made dangerous inroads there and have twice tried to kill President Pervez Musharraf, without whom the American presence in Pakistan would be imperilled.
Much has been said in the U.S. in recent years about Pakistan's actual or potential unreliability as an ally; some of it is fair. But reliability cuts both ways. The same U.S. pundits who have listed Pakistan's faults and who lecture Pakistan on how to run its affairs are silent in the face of the administration's failure. To Pakistanis, we are like a rich man in a manor who hectors his poor neighbours about their faults but refuses to help them in time of desperate need.
Why is the White House reacting so tepidly in Pakistan after handling the tsunami disaster so well? Whatever the reason, by failing to extend more generous and visible assistance to Pakistan, the Bush administration is committing a grave moral and political blunder.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Just some thoughts on the choppers vs F-16 debate that has spun off on the F-16 thread:

It is evident that we need many more medium/heavy lift/transport helicopters than what we possess right now.

What about picking a couple of platforms (for ease in maintenance and cross-service use) that should be distributed amongst the various services: army, airforce, navy, police, dedicated relief teams, ambulance choppers at major hospitals around the country.

All these services combined could easily use 100/200 helicopters, put them to good use in everyday life, and God forbid if ever a major disaster struck again then one would have potent rescue/relief assets that could be used quickly.

Apart form the chopper issue we need regular coordinated exercises for such disasters through a central agency. Also, we need 100% professional, dedicated and well-trained and well-equipped rescue personell and firefighter forces around the country.

Apart form that, one could have depots with relief goods in major towns or in especially far-off areas for quick access in the time of need.

Also, it might be a good idea to have basic first aid as a compulsory course in schools and colleges; repeated and further built on at, say, classes x, y and z etc. Basic heart/lung resuscitation, stabilization of fractures/suspected spinal cord injuries, basic fluid resuscitation, suturing...these skills are simple to learn yet they don't cost much, but they save lives when applied as soon as possible after accidents/disasters.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/27/nat5.htm

ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The government is bearing a high cost of fuel ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs90,000 per hour for different helicopters engaged in the earthquake relief operation, Inter- Services Public Relations ISPR) Director-General Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan told Dawn.

“If a helicopter flies for one whole day it consumes fuel of about $6,000 (Rs360,000) to $10,000 (Rs600,000) depending on the size and other specifications of the aircraft.”

There are almost 90 helicopters engaged in relief operations and each one is flying over eight hours a day, he said. Helicopters flying relief or rescue missions are consuming 600 litres to 800 litres of fuel in one hour, which means 6,400 litres for eight hours of flight. On average, the 90 helicopters are consuming 5,582,400 litres of fuel in a single day.

The government has also borne the high costs of refuelling all the fixed-winged aircraft which have brought in relief goods, the military spokesman said. This is the fuel expenditure of helicopters and all fixed-winged aircraft from the Chaklala airbase only.

“This also excludes all other costs such as that of spares. We have also been providing spares for helicopters such as the Afghan MI-17, which needed the new tail rotor replaced. The Americans have been bringing in their own spares for their Chinook and other helicopters,” Mr Sultan said.

According to information acquired, helicopters are far more expensive to maintain compared to fixed-winged aircraft. All body parts in a helicopter move except the body (shell). “A helicopter needs new parts after 100 hours to 500 hours of flight and without new parts it cannot be allowed to fly,” said a source.

A senior official in the ISPR told Dawn that the government was using its reserves to meet all the fuel requirements. “We have been utilising our own reserves to deal with the crisis. It is not being considered how much is being used and where it is coming from or who is paying. The top most priority right now is to meet the requirements of all aircraft engaged in the relief operations. It will be decided later who will pay,” he said.

According to the ISPR, out of the 91 choppers 41 belonged to Pakistan, 22 were from various friendly countries and 18 were of various NGOs and independent organizations.

The Pakistani helicopters engaged in the rescue and relief missions included 16 MI-17s, three Puma, ten Bell-412, two Y-12, two Sea King (Navy) and eight Aloutte.

There were 22 allied helicopters including 12 of the US, two German, two from Saudi Arabia and four Afghan MI-17s.

Besides, there were 18 miscellaneous helicopters including three of the International Committee of the Red Cross, three Japanese, two Latvians, two from the UN, four AB-139 of the Aga Khan Foundation, two Kamove of France and one Bell-212 of UAE.

During the last 16 days, the fleet of Pakistani and allied helicopters have flown 2,715 hours and evacuated 13,651 casualties.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Bush announces private-sector drive for Pakistan quake aid

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said that executives from some of the world's best-known firms would spearhead efforts to raise private-sector aid for victims of the massive earthquake in Pakistan.

"In the coming days, they will ask Americans to donate directly to a fund set up to provide help to the earthquake victims," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.

The October 8 quake sent a 7.6-magnitude shockwave through South Asia, killing at least 54,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in India, as well as leaving more than three million without roofs over their heads.

The executives leading the aid drive were Jeff Immelt, chairman and chief executive of General Electric; Hank McKinnell, chairman and CEO of Pfizer; Sandy Weill, chairman of Citigroup; Anne Mulcahy, chairman and CEO of Xerox; and Jim Kelly, former chairman and CEO of United Parcel Service of America, Bush said.

"These leaders will work with other Americans to raise awareness and resources to help those in need as a result of this disaster," Bush said.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Chinese premier outlines five-point plan for relief efforts
MOSCOW (October 28 2005): Describing relations between Pakistan and China as all-weather friendship, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao outlined a five-point plan for the rescue and relief efforts for the earthquake victims, during a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

"We believe that under the Pakistani leadership the people will be able to overcome this catastrophe," said Wen Jiabao.

He extended an additional financial assistance of around $14 million for immediate rescue and relief measures for Pakistan, raising the total assistance to over $20 million.

The amount of financial assistance is besides the relief goods comprising tents, blankets, medicines, food, medical, and relief teams sent earlier.

The Chinese Premier said a second medical team would be arriving in Pakistan on Friday to provide treatment to thousands of injured due to the worst earthquake that hit the country in a century.

He said that China would send a fact-finding team to assist Pakistan in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the quake-affected areas, adding that China would also help Pakistan set up a modern seismic monitoring centre and provide latest equipment.

China will also help train Pakistan to set up a National Rescue and Disaster Management Authority to cope with such calamities, he added.

Jiabao said China would support Pakistan in every possible way to help handle the situation following the earthquake.

Shaukat Aziz thanked the Chinese Premier for his support, saying that Pakistan was facing a unique and unprecedented situation, and briefed him about the extent of damages and how the government was coping with the tragedy.

He said Pakistan-China strategic co-operation and friendship were a source of strength for every Pakistani, adding that China always stood by Pakistan in its hour of need and Pakistan was proud of its friendship with China.

He also informed him about the international donors conference to be held in Pakistan on November 18 to seek greater assistance for the people affected by the earthquake.

Chinese Premier Jiabao recalled his visit to Pakistan, saying the warm welcome accorded to him was a manifestation of the strong relations between the two countries.

He said every Chinese house has felt the pain of sufferings of the Pakistani people due to the devastating earthquake and reiterated his country's full support to Pakistan withstand the after-effects of this catastrophe.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and global issues, with a regional perspective. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri were also present.


Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2005-d...5/metro/k9.htm

Relief efforts: ‘negative criticism should be avoided’

By Qadeer Hussain Tanoli

KARACHI: Philanthropists need to contribute more generously for the long-term rehabilitation of the people who have lost their limbs in the earthquake and provide aid for the import of artificial limbs for them, said Dr Naseer-ud-Deen Mahmood who returned to Karachi after serving voluntarily in Azad Kashmir’s quake-hit areas.

Dr Naseer, who worked under the umbrella of The Citizen Foundation (TCF), told The News that private sector has started importing artificial limbs for the quake-handicapped people who would be implanted the same after some three months when they will recover from their post-operation wounds.

Dr Naseer, who rushed to Kashmir on the second day of the incident, said that the TCF has established three field hospitals - one at Buttle and one each at Muzaffarabad’s helipad and the High Court building.

Dr Naseer-ud-Deen Mahmood - a child specialist by profession - volunteered in the affected areas as a coordinator.

"We have been arranging and consolidating different relief teams according to their expertise and equipment to provide best possible aid and treatment to the affected population," he remarked.

He said a number of civilian relief teams from Karachi and Lahore could not reach many places in the devastated areas of Azad Kashmir due to their location in high altitude with destroyed infrastructure. Only the military personnel had the skills and mobility to reach over such places and assist the affected people, he added.

Dr Naseer said there were many people who were not willing to descend from those mountains, as they feared some unscrupulous elements would grab their belongings when the debris was cleared.

He further said that at present the affected people had no foodstuff to eat except preparing wheat meal to fill their appetite.

On a query regarding the availability of medical expertise and equipment for quake-hit areas Dr Naseer said that best orthopedic surgeons of Pakistan were operating right now in various Abbottabad hospitals. Modern communication technology has eased most of the problems regarding the shortage of necessities in the hospitals, he said, adding, they recently received information that there was a shortage of orthopedic screws in Abbottabad, which was effectively tackled from Karachi.

To another query Dr Naseer said, "I feel there is a severe need for more helicopters to rescue the people of those areas where the roads either did not exist or had been blocked due to land sliding".

He said in his view there were 17 helicopters conducting rescue and relief operation in Azad Kashmir, Manshera and other quake-affected areas.

Dr Naseer said that after taking part personally in the relief operation, "I feel that negative criticism should be avoided as relief teams were doing their best to overcome the crises".

He said even if the country possessed more than double of the existing resources it might not have been able to promptly tackle the devastation wreaked by the worst-ever Oct 8 earthquake.

Jordan holds telethon to raise funds for Pakistan's quake victims
 

.c The Associated Press

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Jordan held a telethon Friday to raise funds for Pakistan earthquake victims, netting about US$700,000 by sunset, when Muslims break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The event included fund a raising campaign in all the mosques of the kingdom after Friday prayers.

The Jordan Television telethon was organized by the ministry of religious affairs and the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Society upon orders from King Abdullah II.

The Oct. 6 earthquake killed nearly 80,000 people and left more than three million homeless.

snm/srh



10/28/05 13:45 EDT

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Bravo the Turks!

Comment/Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad

On October 8 morning, as soon as the Turkish authorities learned about the intensity of the earthquake in Pakistan, they started loading four planes at airports in Ankara and Istanbul with rescue and relief supplies and teams. For Turkey has had enough of its shares of earthquakes, the deadliest thus far happening in 1999, and the authorities there can understand the scale of the disaster the moment they learn about its intensity on the Richter Scale.

With Pakistanis, the Turks have this fascination rooted primarily in the first three decades of the twentieth century, especially the 1920s, when the Muslims of the Subcontinent stood by the Turkish nation in its war of Istiklal and provided the direly needed moral, diplomatic and material support. Just as in Pakistan, the widely held notion among the Turkish people is that Pakistanis are their only true friends in the world.

No surprise that on every Friday following the Pakistani tragedy all mosques across Turkey have been appealing to the people to donate in the Pakistani relief effort. In fact, on the first Friday following the earthquake, Adem Aker, one of my former Turkish students, informed me that he had just returned from the Friday prayer, and the entire Khutba of the Mevlana leading the prayer was about how the Turkish people can help their Pakistani brethren in times of need. I have seen editorial comments recalling the days when Muslims of the Subcontinent had come to the aid of the Turks, and arguing that this the time for us to return this kindness and help Pakistanis overcome this tragedy.

Let me come back to the four planes, which started to be loaded with relief supplies as soon as the earthquake happened in Pakistan on October 8. It is saddening to note here that even those planes were loaded with relief supplies within a couple of hours of the earthquake, they could take off from the airports some 15 to 18 hours later. The reason: The Iranian authorities did not give permission to use Iranian airspace to the Turkish planes. Upon this, the entire October 8, Turkey’s vibrant private TV networks continued to criticize the Iranian government for its indifferent attitude.

Leaving aside this unfortunate delay for the Turkish relief supplies to reach Pakistan, the Turkish help to Pakistan has been amazing. The country’s financial commitment to Pakistan for earthquake relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction is the largest—standing at 150 million US dollars in cash. When the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan visited Pakistan last week, he personally delivered $50 million to his Pakistani counterpart. Out of $150, $100 million will be paid in cash and $50 million in shape of humanitarian aid.

The Pakistani media has already widely reported the extensive Turkish help in the aftermath of the tragedy. As of October 28, Turkey’s humanitarian contributed to Pakistan included the dispatch of 15 military and 3 civilian aircrafts containing search and rescue (SAR), medical, Red Crescent personnel and humanitarian aid to the friendly and brotherly Pakistan after the earthquake. The humanitarian aid sent so far contained medicines, vaccination, medical equipments, tents, canvas, camping material, blankets, sleeping bags, oven and a cooking team, food, plenty of bakery and sweet.

Turkish rescue and relief teams were the first to each the disaster-stricken regions. Its search and rescue teams as well as NGOs reached Muzaffarabad and started their rescue operation. Natural Disaster Search and Rescue Teams from the Turkish Armed Forces’ Special Forces Command (22 persons), Civil Defence General Directorate (22 persons), GEA Search and Rescue Association (12 persons), AKUT and LIDAM (15 persons) comprising 71 persons continued their activities in Muzaffarabad and rescued 9 lives from the rubbles. These search and rescue teams went back to Turkey on 22-23 October.

Turkish medical team has established one field hospital for 50 persons and by today they have vaccinated around 30,000 people as well as provided first aid to 5000 people. There is 22 members medical team and 66 members Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) team continuing activities in Muzaffarabad area. TRC team has provided aid to more than 75,000 people. TRC is establishing tent villages in Muzaffarabad providing shelter to around 70,000 people.

During his visit, the Turkish Prime Minister assured the Government of Pakistan of extending his country’s expertise in the reconstruction of earthquake-proof infrastructure. In this regard, a team of experts would soon come to Pakistan and visit stricken areas to access the kind of expertise required in reconstructing schools, hospitals, houses, roads and government buildings on modern lines.

In order to continue the humanitarian aid to the earthquake stricken people of Pakistan, the Turkish Government will be sending 38 (thirty six) more C-130 military aircrafts to Pakistan between 28 October -20 November 2005. Within this framework, the Turkish Government will be sending one million blankets, 50,000 tons of flour, 25,000 tons of sugar, 2 million bottles of 1 litter cooking oil and tents as first phase.

The General Directorate of Turkish Emergency Management Agency, Turkish Red Crescent Association, Education Ministry and Department of Religious Affairs have collected through fund raising around $ 52 million by 24th October 2005. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which is sending humanitarian aid to Pakistan through their depot in Iskenderum, Turkey.

The Turkish Government has taken the responsibility of land transportation of their total weight of the humanitarian aid of 860 tons which includes 103,675 pieces of blankets, 9915 pieces of tents and 2000 pieces of stoves from Iskenderum to Incirlik airbase. NATO aircrafts are carrying this humanitarian aid from Incirlik to Islamabad. Turkey also provides 2 military aircrafts for the transportation of the aforementioned humanitarian aid to Pakistan. The Turkish government has also provided some $ 3 million to UN relief and rehabilitation agencies—such as UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and UNHCR. In addition, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad is planning to establish a kindergarten or a primary school in the earthquake affected areas on permanent basis and for this purpose funds are being collected at the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Moreover, all banks in Turkey have opened accounts for collecting financial aid. Turkish Red Crescent has signed an agreement with the 3 major Turkish GMS service providers in order to collect donations through SMS messages for the earthquake victims. Turkish Airlines, Ankara, Istanbul, Kocaeli and Konya Municipalities, Human Rights and Foundation for the Human Freedom Assistance, Baºkent University and Deniz Feneri Assistance and Solidarity Association are also sending extensive humanitarian aid to Pakistan.

Human Rights and Human Assistance Foundation are continuing their assistance by running one mobile hospital and one mobile restaurant. Baºkent University has sent humanitarian aid in shape of medicines around $150,000 for the earthquake affected people. Deniz Feneri Assistance and Solidarity Association have given around $500,000 assistance and they will be providing tunnel type tent for the accommodation of 100 families, 200 prefabricated houses, cloths, food and medicines. Turkish Airlines has also decided to send 40 tons of humanitarian aid.

The Ankara Municipality has announced $1 million cash assistance and 1 million blankets. Whereas, Istanbul Municipality will be establishing 2 ovens in Muzaffarabad having the capacity to cook 10 –11 thousand breads per day which will be distributed among the affected people free of cost. The provision of such kind of assistance by the organizations and community foundations is expected to grow.

Just looking at all of the above figures, one cannot help but thank the Turkish for their kind help in our utmost need of hour. We, Pakistanis, shall never forget this kind Turkish gesture of a long-lasting friendship and deep rooted feeling of brotherhood. I know, for sure, that as situation comes back to normal in Pakistan, its relations with Turkey are never going to be the same again. The two countries have already been increasingly cooperating in manifold fields—the only problem has been the lack of substantive progress, especially in areas of economic and trade cooperation. Such snags in ties should be done away with, for the two countries should be realistically as close to each other during normal times as they get inter-twined during a tragedy.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

The Turks have proven themselves to be our true brothers in this time of hardship.

However, I am really disappointed at the behaviour of he Iranians. They are no more our friends than bharat. The sooner we realise that, the better.

I hope our authorities as well as our people will remember those who rushed to our help at the time of need, as opposed to those who just came with empty promises or even created difficulties for us.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

I am sorry to say that these Iranis are very arrogant sometimes. Even after India voted against them they dont have any sense to who thier real friends are.

Not allowing airspace for cargoplanes bound for Pakistan was a silly mistake. Alot of sensible countries including Pakistan will take note of this.

First the Nuclear mess they pushed us in then this kind of attitude. They really are asking for trouble.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Hi comrades, i went out to ghari dupatta and visited north of neelam valley with LCCI and KCCI
delegation. Here are my observations:

- the best work is being done by our mujahideen friends, they have reached far-flung areas, provided timely relief and medicines and have bee critical in getting people out to lower lands. Hatsoff to these socalled terrorists. They completed the work where army has'nt reached as yet. Many of them were educated, fluent speakers in english and had sound knowledge of the terrain.
God bless these guys.

- This nation really rose up as one, there were camps from all walks of life, people from mqm, JI, pima, eidhi and many other private groups and ngo's. There was a shortage of trained trauma surgeons and surgical instrument and water-proof tents for making temporary operation theaters which has led to casualities.

-army was'nt ready, had it been a smaller earth quake, they still would have been unprepared, although the jawans were working hard according to their skill. army doctors are not prepared to handle casuality trauma, the best work is being done by PIMA dostors, sofar they have managed 60,000 minor and major casualities. Great work. Al-dawah medical facitiy hospital in ghari-dupatta was also excellent. The small town is virtually completely destroyed.

-people coming from far-ff areas had grim news to deliver, there are still 5 lakh people stranded in
neelam valley , most injured or too weak, if help does not reach them many will die. after-shocks are still common and people are trying to get as much belongings as possible and leave the areas and move out to mansehra, peshawar or to isl-rawalpindi.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Abbas Naqvi Sahib,

Mujahideen have been fantastic in their efforts. They went to the task despite a lot of their own losses.

Tragedy is that while there are a lot of unsung heroes in Pakistan from all walks of life, these heroes are cursed and labelled terrorists, ignorant mullahs, bla bla bla.

I guess the people who really matter, do know who their heroes are.
Interestingly though, even the westerners have had their eye brows raised by the good work of Mujahideen in AJK for victims.

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Salaam

I can not figure out the reason why the transportation of relief goods wasn't allowed over iran but nevertheless one should hold his mouth before he knows the full story. Here is what Iranian people are doing.

Iran pledges US$ 200m for reconstruction of quake-hit areas


ISLAMABAD: Expressing his deep grief and sorrow over the loss caused by earthquake in the NWFP and AJK, Iranian Vice president in Executive Affairs Dr. Saeed Loo has said that Iran will provide the financial and technical assistance amounting to US $ 200 million to Pakistan for the reconstruction of the quake-hit areas in the second phase.

"We are with Pakistan in this worst tragedy that people are facing here and we have provided relief goods to the tune of US $ 500 million for the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims in the first phase," he stated this while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.
He said that we had also experienced the same tragedy two years ago when earthquake rocked some areas of the Iran and we could feel the sufferings of brotherly Muslim country Pakistan.

"I am here in Pakistan to convey the sympathies to Pakistan and its nation from Iran and its people," he added.

He said that the discussion was in progress in the cabinet of Iran to give 200 million dollars for the reconstruction of the earthquake-hit areas and it would be provided soon to Pakistan.

He said that response of Iran was quick after areas of Pakistan was jolted by earthquake and rescue and medical teams were sent immediately to Pakistan to participate the rescue activities in quake-hit areas.

"We have sent relief goods for the rehabilitation of the affected families to the tune of 500 million dollars so far and the more relief goods will be sent as Iranian Red Crescent had been asked to finalize the lists of relief goods," he added.

He said that he had brought as many as one thousand tents and he had assured the President general Pervez Musharraf to give ten thousand more tents to provide shelters to the affected people.

He said that medical and relief teams of the Iran were working in the affected areas and they would continue their activities till the rehabilitation and mobile hospitals were engaged in providing the medical assistance to the injured people.

Replying to the question, he said that Iran was ready to send helicopters for relief operations in the quake-hit areas and it depended on the request from Pakistan side.

He said that Iran was ready to allow using its territory for the transport carrying relief goods for the earthquake victims.

He offered to build hospital for the artificial limbs if the government of Pakistan was ready to give land for the building. "We will make building and other material used in artificial limbs," he added.

He said that government of Iran was mobilizing the NGOs, provincial and local governments to raise funds for the earthquake victims of Pakistan.


http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=88995

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Not too sure why Iran said no to overflights. Maybe it was cuzz they didn't want Nato relief planes flying over their territory. I am a bit reluctant to jump on the Iran is our worst enemy bandwagon

Re: BREAKING NEWS: Earthquake in Pakistan
 

Initially I also heard similar complaints that heartless Iranians weren’t doing anything for us while we reacted immediately after the Bam Earthquake. Then I started seeing pictures of Iranian Field Hospitals and planes loaded with supplies. It became obvious that what I heard were just rumors. Few days ago I started to hear such complaints again and then I heard that Iran’s Vice President not only came to Pakistan but also pledged an INITIAL Aid Installment of US $ 200 Million!

Holy Quran instructs us not to believe in rumors without verifying them first.

If we believe in such rumors then how about believing that RAW is spending billions in both Pakistan and Iran to bribe some tabloids and reporters to assure no Strategic Alliance between us ever becomes a reality. For example, a friend of my brother recently went to Iran and some Iranians asked him where he was from. When my brother’s friend said, “Pakistan”, the response came, “Oh, Dushman Pakistan!” Why ‘Dushman Pakistan?’ What have we done to them? Who is propagating this perception in their country that we are their ‘Dushman?’ Iran is our neighbor; should we not be concerned?