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| November 17, 2005 | Thursday | Shawwal 14, 1426 |
India fixes dates with Pakistan for quake survivors to cross LoC NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (AFP) India said after finalising dates with Pakistan that quake-affected people would be able cross the Line of Control from Thursday and receive treatment at relief camps on their side. Foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said people would be allowed to cross at the Uri-Chakhoti point on November 17 and December 1 and at the Uri-Hajipur point on November 24 and December 8. The Tithwal-Nauseri crossing would be open November 19 and 26 and December 3 and 10, the Poonch-Rawalakote crossing on November 21 and December 5 and Mendhar-Tattapani November 28 and December 12, he added. India's foreign ministry said relief material would be sent by rail Thursday as part of humanitarian aid offered by New Delhi to Islamabad. Each of the five crossing points would open once-a-week for relief supplies. They will be open to people on the announced dates.(Posted @ 20:35 PST)
Bush promises Musharraf help to rally aid for quake relief BUSAN, South Korea, Nov 17 (AFP) President George W. Bush promised President Pervez Musharraf Thursday that he would work to rally international aid following last month's earthquake, the White House said. Musharraf telephoned Bush, who was here for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to ask for help in building "international momentum" ahead of a November 19 donors conference, said Mike Green, the senior director for Asia on the US National Security Council. Musharraf gave the US president a summary of the situation in Pakistan following the October 8 quake, which killed more than 73,000 people in Pakistan and made some three million people homeless. Musharraf has said Pakistan needs 5.2 billion dollars to recover. Bush "promised he would look at ways to help" and would instruct US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to come up with detailed plans to do so, Green told reporters.(Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Aid groups issue emergency appeal for help after Pakistan quake ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (AFP) Six of the largest international aid groups working in quake-hit Pakistan issued an emergency appeal Thursday ahead of a conference of donors in Islamabad on Saturday to raise money for the quake victims, which killed nearly 74,000 people and made three million homeless. "The onset of winter is likely to result in a second wave of deaths," the International Rescue Committee, Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, Save the Children, CARE International in Pakistan and Mercy Corps said. "A second disaster is now set to unfold. How many die this time is up to us," they said in a joint statement."The window for responding to the crisis is closing rapidly, but major gaps in funding may leave thousands of families without adequate shelter and resources to survive the winter," the groups said. "We have the chance to save thousands of lives, but the world community must act now," Mercy Corps' emergency spokeswoman Cassandra Nelson said.(Posted @ 20:40 PST)
UN's Annan urges world to help quake-hit Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (Reuters) U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan beseeched the world on Thursday to wake up to the scale of the earthquake disaster in Pakistan and give generously to help the country rebuild after last month's devastating tremor. "We received some resources, but need much, much more to be able to help the people," Annan said on arrival in Pakistan to attend an international donors' conference on Saturday. Annan said he wanted the world's better-off governments, corporates and people to help Pakistan. "I would expect the world, those with capacity, to give generously and give willingly, and I'm not just speaking to the governments but also to the private sector and individuals who can contribute," he said.(Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Kashmiris reunite in grief across LoC CHAKOTHI, Pakistan, Nov 17 (Reuters) Kashmiris reunited in grief across the ceasefire line dividing their quake-stricken homeland on Thursday, after arch rivals Pakistan and India relaxed LoC restrictions as a humanitarian gesture."I came. I was very happy. I saw all the family but after the earthquake they are living in a very bad situation. It is a very sad moment for me," said 72-year-old Attaullah Khawaja. Until Thursday, only relief supplies but no human traffic was allowed over the footbridge linking Chakothi and Uri, leaving Kashmiris aching for news of loved ones. The quake killed over 73,000 people, mostly in Azad Kashmir. Thursday's crossing was mostly one-way traffic, with a total of 24 Kashmiris returning home from the Pakistani side. Eighty-three people from Occupied Kashmir have been cleared to make the trip to Pakistani territory, but it was not clear on Thursday why they had not yet come across. None of the 120 people who live in Azad Kashmir and applied to go the other way have yet had their names cleared by the Indian authorities.(Posted @ 14:45 PST)
UN plan for assisting quake victims ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (APP): UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele has said that 398 million dollars will be needed under its Early Recovery Plan to help quake affected people in ten major sectors including shelter, employment, livelihoods, agriculture, governance, environment, education, protection, food, nutrition, health, water and sanitation. Work under the plan will lay the foundations for full-scale reconstruction later, he said. "The Early Recovery framework will be a critical area of discussion during the donors conference on Saturday. This plan outlines how the Government, civil society and the international community can meet people's needs in the period between relief and reconstruction,' a press release said.(Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Russian President assures support to President Musharraf in reconstruction task ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (APP): Russian President, Viladmir Putin had telephonic talk Wednesday with President General Pervez Musharraf and assured him of complete support for Pakistan's colossal reconstruction efforts in earthquake-ravaged areas , Ptv reported.(Posted @ 09:50 PST)
D.G. ILO moved by " extraordinary response" of Pakistani people following quake GENEVA, Nov 17(APP): During a 40-minute meeting with a tripartite delegation representing the Government, Workers and Employers' of Pakistan, Mr. Juan Somavia, Director General ILO assured ILO's continued assistance for the ongoing reconstruction programmes in the earthquake affected areas of Pakistan. He especially lauded the "extraordinary response" of the people of Pakistan for rising up to the occasion “in the wake of this unprecedented natural calamity.” The three-member delegation led by M. Ahsan Akhtar Malik, Joint Secretary consisted of Ashraf W. Tabbani, former Governor Sindh and President, Employers' Federation of Pakistan and Khursheed Ahmed, General Secretary All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions. Mr. Somavia said that he would have attended the Donors' Conference had it not coincided with the Governing Body's meeting but would visit Pakistan next year. He said he had nominated a very high level delegation to attend the Donors' Conference in Islamabad on Nov 19.(Posted @ 09:50 PST)
US AID chief to head U.S. delegation to Nov. 19 Donors Conference WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (APP)- An 11-member US delegation headed by Andrew Natsios, Administrator of USAID will participate in the International Donors' Conference for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas in Islamabad on November 19. Other members of the US delegation include Christina Rocca, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South Asian Affairs; Anthony Wayne, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, Disaster Assistance Center Pakistan; Wesley Wilson, Senior Policy Advisor, USAID; Mary Gin Kennedy, Bureau of South Asia (Pakistan Desk) Earthquake Coordinator; Margo Si! emer, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; Lisa Curtis, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Member; William Berger, USAID Disaster Assistance Relief Team Leader; and Lisa Chiles, USAID Director Islamabad. Ryan Crocker, US Ambassador to Pakistan, will also attend the Conference. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
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