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| October 30, 2005 | Sunday | Ramzan 25, 1426 |
UN hails quake relief accord, but huge job remains MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The United Nations welcomed India and Pakistan's agreement on Sunday to open their Kashmir border to earthquake survivors and relief supplies but said getting aid to millions would remain a logistical nightmare. U.N. emergency coordinator Jan Vandemoortele welcoming the Agreement remarked: "It is absolutely positive but it will not turn mountains into plains. We are still planning to get a major airlift going throughout the winter." Natasha Hryckow, U.N. logistics coordinator in Muzaffarabad said the agreement should make a huge difference when it came to reaching large numbers of people cut off near the border, such as in the Neelum river valley. "If we had the potential to open it from the other side, we start getting road access to areas we can only fly helicopters to at the moment.That's obviously going to make a huge impact on how much we can shift in and how many people we can keep in those areas." A spokesman for the government of Azad Kashmir, Abdul Khaliq Wasi, called the agreement "a very good thing" and said it would help those who had yet to receive assistance, but he added: "It should have happened much earlier." Chakothi, a town near one of the five crossing points to be opened, is still inaccessible by road and residents have expressed frustration at the delay in aid supplies. "The government hasn't given us anything. If India will, why not?" said Syed Ali, an elderly man with a long white beard. Vandemoortele said several countries had now responded to the U.N. appeal. "We hope that this week there will be a major change in commitments and contributions." (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Pakistan, England cricketers visit quake victims and announce donations ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (AFP) - English and Pakistani cricketers on Sunday visited Pakistani earthquake victims and announced donations to help them recover from the disaster. England captain Michael Vaughan and opener Marcus Trescothick visited the quake-hit Bagh (Azad Kashmir )and distributed relief goods and medicine. "England and Wales Cricket Board and Team England Players partnership have also announced a donation in the range of 100,000 pounds which they will give in the next few days," Separately Pakistan's cricket team visited earthquake victims in two hospitals and said they would donate their match fee from one of the upcoming Tests against England to help rebuild houses in affected areas. Team captain Inzamam-ul Haq, coach Bob Woolmer and 13 other players visited Rawalpindi General Hospital and Islamabad Hospital Complex for more than two hours. Express paceman Shoaib Akhtar did not make it as he was unwell. "This is our mission to bring smiles back to affected people especially children," said Inzamam. "Our heart goes out for the victims and it's painful to read the death toll and see the injured after such massive devastation." The Pakistan team also announced they would donate part of their match fee for one year. "All the players will donate their full match fee from the Multan Test (around 1.5 million rupees or 25,000 dollars) and will continue to donate five percent of the match fee for one year," said Inzamam. Pakistan meet England at Multan, in the first of three Tests, from November 12. "We are also donating all the expenses for building 100 houses in affected areas," said Inzamam.(Posted @ 23:45 PST)
PM, Saudi Prince review ongoing relief efforts in AJK MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 30 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz along with Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Chairman Kingdom Holding Company Sunday visited the earthquake-hit areas of Muzaffarabad to review the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work. The Prime Minister and Saudi Prince visited different affected areas of Muzaffarabad city and appreciated the relief and rehabilitation works. They also visited Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences to enquire about the health of the injured patients here. The Prime Minister distributed cash compensation & cheques. On the occasion, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, announced one million dollar to help Pakistan continue relief efforts for the victims. He also announced to construct 20 schools in Muzaffarabad. The donation of one million dollars is personal contribution of Prince Al-Waleed. He has already announced US $ 7 million for the quake victims of AJK and NWFP. Prince Al-Waleed talking to newsmen assured that Saudi Arabia would extend full help and cooperation to Pakistan in this need of hour. He said he came here personally to visit the quake affected areas and express his deep sense of condolences and sympathies on this tragic loss due to devastated quake. He appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Army and international organizations and other friendly countries for their help and contribution in the affected areas. Earlier, he attended a briefing at the Army headquarters. Prince Al-Waleed said, "Its a battle zone and Pakistan's Army done a marvellous job."(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Interfaith Group in USA collecting relief goods for Pakistan quake-victims Belleville, Oct.30 (PPI): The Metro East Interfaith Partnership is making progress trying to aid victims of the Pakistan earthquake. Mohammed Kibria, a member of the Masjid Islamic Center and operator of the Psychiatric Hypnosis Healing Center, has established here the Pakistan Disaster Relief Fund. "The drive has been going pretty good," Kibria said. " (Posted @ 15:35PST)
Chinese fact-finding mission on earthquake to reach Pakistan Monday BEIJING, Oct. 30 (APP) A Chinese fact-finding mission would reach Pakistan on Monday to assess the reconstruction and rehabilitation requirements in the earthquake affected areas to extend further assistance. The mission will be led by Vice Minister of the Chinese Commerce Ministry. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Tired of waiting, occupied Kashmir villagers rebuild homes PATIBAGH, occupied Kashmir, Oct 30 (AFP) - Left to fend for themselves, earthquake survivors in the Kashmiri hamlet of Patibagh have started to hammer down broken walls and collect wooden beams from the debris to build shelters that will keep them alive during the looming icy winter. All the mud-brick houses in Patibagh, home to about 600 people, were wrecked by the killer quake. Many survivors are still out in the cold without a tent and food rations are running low. There is not a single non-governmental organisation in sight to provide relief or shelter and the village is entirely dependent on the government and the Indian army. Due to heavy snowfall the village is cut off from the rest of occupied Kashmir from November to February every year. It has no telephones and there is an acute shortage of power. Fresh landslides are being triggered by aftershocks and people are moving into the fields.Only half the villagers got tents and there is an acute shortage of Kerosene. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
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