ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: A group of 22 diplomatic heads of mission in Islamabad were taken to see some of the earthquake-hit areas in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP on Thursday.

The diplomats were from Algeria, Afghanistan, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, the Netherlands, Nato, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, UAE, Czech Republic, Poland, the UNDP and the IOM.

They were escorted by Additional Secretary (UN) Tariq Osman Hyder, the head of the ministry of foreign affairs’ Emergency Coordination Cell, and Tasnim Aslam, D-G (UN) and spokesperson for the ministry.

The diplomats were given aerial views of the affected areas and shown around Bagh, Muzaffarbad, Balakot and Gari Habibullah where they were given briefings by the army divisional commanders and other officers, Foreign Office said.

They visited the army field hospital in Muzaffarabad helicopter base and the Iranian mobile hospital in Gari Habibullah and met members of the Belgian field hospital team. They also visited a tent camp in Gari Habibullah.

The diplomats appreciated the opportunity to see the extent and gravity of the damage and the pressing needs of the affected populace, which, they said, allowed them to understand the actual situation. —Q.A.