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| November 20, 2005 | Sunday | Shawwal 17, 1426 |
Relief operations intensified in quake-hit areas ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP): Relief and compensation operations have been intensified in the quake hit areas in the AJK and NWFP. About 19 trucks carrying edible, tents and blankets were dispatched to Jabori, Gori Hills, Doli, Mundagucha, Buttle, Chattar Plain and Balakot. Relief goods are also being supplied in the Sadbani, Jabra and Ghanol areas of Naran and Kaghan valleys through mules. Meanwhile, the authorities have so far distributed over fifteen hundred million rupees to the next of kin in death cases while over Rs. 62 million have been paid to the wounded people in the NWFP. About 731 temporary shelters have been completed and over 600 more are under construction in the quake hit areas. The Punjab government has dispatched one 140 trucks of relief goods for quake affectees of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP.(Posted @ 22:15 PST)
92% survivors of Battagram district provided tents ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP): The gigantic task of providing shelter to all quake survivors before the onset of harsh weather has almost been completed in Tehsil Allai of district Battagram. About 92 percent quake survivors of Tehsil Allai have been provided tents, Radio Pakistan reported. Some 30,000 people have been accommodated in the tentage villages in Tehsil Allai. A 25 bed hospital of Cuba equipped with modern machinery was also providing quality medical facilities to the survivors. So far 32,000 patients have been treated in Allai while over 400 have been operated upon. Some 650 serious patients have been shifted to the hospitals of Abbottabad, Mansehra, Peshawar and Islamabad. Army Engineers have completed fifty shelters, while work was underway on 200 others to accommodate maximum number of affectees. Gantar, Gangwal and Battela roads have been opened for traffic while work is underway on Pushto road. (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
International Fund for Agriculture Development pledges US$ 60 million ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP): International Fund for Agriculture Development pledged US$ 60 million for the rehabilitation of earthquake affected areas at Saturday’s donors conference, Lennart Bage, President IFAD, told prime minster Shaukat Aziz while congratulating him for organizing a successful conference. (Posted @ 09:54 PST)
President IDB calls on Prime Minister ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP): President of Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Ali, called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday and congratulated him for organizing a successful Donors Conference. The fact that Pakistan has been able to complete the damage assessment and organize the conference in such a short time showed that the leadership qualities of President and Prime Minister of Pakistan. IDB has pledged US$ 501.6 million. He said IDB has also arranged special tents for shelter, schools and hospitals which will reach Pakistan within 20 days. (Posted @ 09:54 PST)
Pressure on Pakistan to deliver after aid meet success ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (AFP) - Pakistan is flush with the success of raising nearly six billion dollars to help it recover from last month's massive earthquake, but the pressure is now on for it to deliver. "It was, from the point of view of Pakistan, a roaring success in that they actually obtained more pledges than they had asked for," analysts said but stressed that "the real test for the government will be whether they are able to deliver to the victims the fruits of this." Another concern was whether the pledges would be honoured, he said, because donors to international disasters frequently fail to deliver on grand promises that catch the spotlight. Also, the government had been so focused on raising the aid that it had not properly worked out what it would do with it, Faisal Bari, economist with the Islamabad-based Mahbobul Haq Human Development Centre, told AFP. That most of the new pledges were loans and not grants was a disappointment, Oxfam humanitarian coordinator James Cocking told AFP. "The international community risks heaping even more misery on survivors by increasing the debt burden of Pakistan through these reconstruction loans," he said. "Donors must work harder to help them climb the huge mountain of challenges they face to rebuild their lives and livelihood." (Posted @ 09:22 PST)
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