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| October 24, 2005 | Monday | Ramazan 19, 1426 |
Aftershocks jolt quake-hit Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (AFP) Two aftershocks measuring 4.8 and 5.2 on the Richter scale shook Pakistan Monday in the latest tremors to follow the devastating October 8 earthquake, an official said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The first tremor was felt at 5:43 pm (1243 GMT) with the epicentre near Mansehra, an official at Pakistan's seismological department said. The second moderate aftershock of a 5.2 magnitude was felt at 6:14 pm (1314 GMT) with its epicentre in the Hazara region, he said, adding that the tremors were felt in Peshawar, Mansehra and Islamabad.(Posted @ 21:45 PST)
Kashmiri leader slams India's relief camps on LoC SRINAGAR, Oct 24 (AFP) A top Kashmiri leader, Shabir Shah, criticised India's plans to operate three relief camps for Pakistani earthquake survivors along the Line of Control (LoC). Shah said the camps would fail to help survivors rebuild their homes and villages. Instead, he said Kashmiris should be allowed to cross over to Azad Kashmir to assist survivors. "It will not serve any purpose. It is a mere eyewash," Shah said of the camps. "People in Azad Kashmir need us there. They want our help in rebuilding their homes and lives," he said adding that "they have lost their families. They need consolation. You are making them walk up to your relief camps and not taking relief to them." He doubted many victims would head to the camps at Kaman Post and Teetwal in the north and Chakan Dabagh in the south. Another leader, Nayeem Khan, said he would leave with supporters for Azad Kashmir on Tuesday to help survivors and cross the LoC on his own. "I have not sought permission from (the) India army to cross over. I don't need permission. It is my state," he said.(Posted @ 21:40 PST)
Indian officials due in Pakistan for quake aid talks ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (AFP) An Indian delegation will visit Pakistan on Friday for talks on establishing crossing points on the Line of Control (LoC) to help quake relief efforts, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. "The Indian government has informed us that an official delegation headed by the joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs will arrive in Pakistan on October 28 for talks," the ministry said in a statement on Monday. It said the meeting had been organised to discuss Pakistan’s proposal for the two-way movement of people across the LoC. "It is our hope that we will be able to implement this proposal this month," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.(Posted @ 21:35 PST)
Afghan leader meets President Musharraf; concludes visit ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP): President Hamid Karzai on Monday conveyed to President General Musharraf his country's support and solidarity in the wake of the earthquake. Karzai assured Musharraf of all possible Afghan help in the rehabilitation of the affected people. The two leaders discussed the post-earthquake situation, relief activities, plans for rehabilitation and other related issues. They also discussed bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance the existing close ties between the two countries. Karzai Monday concluded his day-long visit to Pakistan and was seen off by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Chaklala Air Base.(Posted @ 21:26 PST)
Pak army engineers reopen ten major roads in quake hit areas of NWFP: ISPR PESHAWAR Oct 24 (APP): Pakistan Army Engineers achieved a major breakthrough by reopening major roads in the quake hit areas of NWFP on Monday, says an ISPR release here. Kaghan-Jared road was cleared by Army Engineers one km short of Jarid town. Road Thakot to Banna, Less Allai Valley was also cleared. The 86 kilometre long Thakot-Darban road was also cleared for all kinds of traffic. Army Engineers removed landslides from Kaghan-Paras road, Battal-Sacha Kalan road, Nawazabad Munda Gacha road, Shinkiari-Daddhar-Jabori-Sacha Kalan road whereas slides were also cleared from seven kilometres out of the ten kilometre Balakot-Ganoiol road. However army engineers were still confronted with challenges of restoring the communication infrastructures as roads were regularly blocked by slides due to frequent aftershocks in the affected areas.(Posted @ 21:22 PST)
US Navy brings quake relief from overseas Pakistanis KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct 24 (AFP) US Navy ship Pearl Harbor on Monday delivered 140 tonnes of earthquake relief goods donated by Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates, the US consulate said. "We are here for the second time in a week to share the pain with the Pakistanis in this hour of grief and need," Commander Jonathan Harnden told reporters at the ship. US Consul General Mary Witt said the delivery was further evidence of Washington's support for Pakistan.(Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Indians prepare to assist quake survivors from Pakistan CHAKAN DABAGH, Oct 24 (AFP) The Indian army is readying medical facilities, building bridges, clearing landmines and rushing supplies to its militarised frontier in expectation of a flood of stricken earthquake survivors from Pakistan, officials said Monday. "We have set up a 100-bed tent hospital which includes a 10-bed emergency unit for those who are critically injured," Indian army brigadier A.K. Bakshi said in Chakan Dabagh, 249 kilometres west of Jammu. Chakan Dabagh is one of three points along the Line of Control (LoC) identified by New Delhi at the weekend as points where it plans to set up relief camps for earthquake victims. India says survivors from the Pakistani zone can cross the LoC to the relief camps during daylight hours, be treated and gather supplies, and then cross back again. It said the camps will be opened as soon as Pakistan gives the go-ahead, and they would be ready to operate by Tuesday.Engineers said they had been working non-stop since Tuesday to clear landmines from the LoC to allow the safe crossing of earthquake survivors. Colonel Hemant Juneja, the Indian army's chief spokesman in Occupied Kashmir, said New Delhi would be flexible on the relief efforts. "It will now depend on Pakistan to accept whether our civilian doctors can go across the LoC, or let people come to our relief camps, and allow the injured to come across for treatment and then go back," the colonel said.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Pakistan relief effort has three weeks to deliver: UN GENEVA, Oct 24 (AFP) The international community has three weeks to deliver enough aid to quake victims in mountainous areas of Azad Kashmir before snowfall sets in, the United Nations warned Monday. "There is a three-week window of opportunity to deliver assistance to mountainous areas before the first snowfall," the UN's humanitarian office (OCHA) said in a regular situation Report. "According to reports from the authorities, severe weather, with heavy rain, is forecasted to hit the area in the next three to four days," it added. Officials say between 10 and 20 percent of affected areas have still not received supplies or medical care, despite up to 100 relief flights daily by Pakistani, US, German and Japanese helicopters. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
EU Commission proposes more aid for Pakistan BRUSSELS, Oct 24 (Reuters) The European Commission has proposed at least 80 million euros ($96 million) in fresh aid for reconstruction and relief for the survivors of the Oct. 8 earthquake in Pakistan, the EU executive body said on Monday. "The challenge of reconstructing lives and livelihoods in the aftermath of this terrible natural disaster will be with us for many years," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement. The Commission has already released nearly 14 million euros in emergency humanitarian aid and said it would seek fast approval for the new tranche. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Afghan president brings aid to quake-hit Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived here Monday with more aid for survivors of the powerful earthquake which devastated northern Pakistan this month, officials said. His office in Kabul said he had brought five tonnes (tons) of medicine and a 30-strong medical team to Islamabad, as well as his foreign, defence and health ministers. Karzai was due to meet President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to "discuss the ongoing international rescue and relief operations and Afghanistan's assistance to the victims of the earthquake," a statement said.(Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Quake creates dooms day-like situation in affected areas : Yasin ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP): Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik has said that recent earthquake has caused great destruction in the affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP. "Everything has been destroyed here; it is a doomsday like situation. One can only feel the smell of bodies here", the JKLF Chief told BBC Radio. He said the bodies of people are being buried in mass graves while those who survived are homeless and injured.To a question he said, India's idea of opening relief point at LoC would not serve the purpose . Most people of AJK are wounded and displaced. It would not be possible for them to visit the LoC to meet their well-wisher and receive relief goods. It would be more appropriate if the relief goods from IHK reach the door steps of people, he said. It is no time for politics. Everyone should think purely on humanitarian grounds, he stated.(Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Pakistani army moves to clear bodies from Kashmiri market MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, Oct 24 (AFP) - The Pakistani army said Monday it would start clearing the rubble of Muzaffarabad’s main Medina market where bodies remain two weeks after the massive South Asian quake, Major Farooq Nasir, spokesman for the army's relief operations here said. "The road leading to the market is too narrow and was full of debris," he said explaining why it has taken so long to clear the bazaar and recover the trapped bodies. Meanwhile, army troops and foreign aid workers are also beginning to reach previously cut-off villages in the surrounding mountains where thousands of stranded people are in desperate need. Relief flights continued Monday from this supply hub, with only about 70 helicopters including US aircraft diverted from the war in neighbouring Afghanistan. In Muzaffarabad, which lost some 25,000 out of a total population of 125,000, locals were beginning to come to terms with the new reality of their devastated home. Many live in the rubble of their houses to protect what little is left from looters. Tent cities have sprung up to shelter the homeless, but more survivors arrive every day from wrecked villages in the mountains.(Posted @ 11:35 PST)
Pakistan redesigning whole damaged cities: PM ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday said besides building tent villages for the earthquake victims, the government had decided to re-design and rebuild the ravaged cities. Speaking at the Iftar dinner hosted by him in honour of Secretary General OIC Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoghu and President of Islamic Development Bank Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, the prime minister thanked the assistance and support received from the Islamic countries and briefly mentioned the measures taken by the government for the relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake victims. He said Pakistan urgently needed tents, blankets and engineering equipment. OIC Secretary General Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoghu speaking on the occasion appealed to the member states to raise their donations at the forthcoming UN sponsored conference in Geneva on October 26. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Imran Khan slams 'poor' response to Kashmir quake LONDON, Oct 23 (APP/AFP) - Pakistan cricket captain turned politician Imran Khan took a swipe at the international community Sunday for what he called its "poor" response to the killer earthquake in the Kashmir region. With winter fast approaching, he said the number of survivors "exposed to the elements" could double if emergency shelter fails to be provided. "They can't go into their houses. They're trapped. They don't have any shelter. That problem is the biggest problem facing Pakistan," Imran told Britain's ITV television. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
'A children's catastrophe': Quake leaves young to fend for themselves MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 24 (AFP) - Most children lost at least a father or a mother in the massive earthquake that devastated Azad Kashmir and northeastern district of the NWFP. There is no clear figure on how many children are displaced. Volunteers are making rounds at camps for a proper census. In Muzaffarabad alone, there are about 2,000 children who are either orphaned or who arrived at tents with relatives other than their parents. "The quake couldn't have struck at a worse time when the kids were in their classrooms. We have visited many schools (where) even to this day children are trying to claw through the rubble to get their classmates out." “ We have thousands and thousands of kids in lowland tent communities that have just been set up. There is nowhere for them to play, no real counselling and no education system left. UNICEF has been deploying volunteers to account for all the children, and the agency will be giving immunizations for the common cold, polio and measles to a million children in the next few days. Volunteers have also begun distributing educational materials, and tents will be set up to offer at least rudimentary schooling. There is also a huge number of children who had body parts amputated and who would likely be marginalized in an impoverished society not trained to deal with people with disabilities. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
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