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| November 28, 2005 | Monday | Shawwal 25, 1426 |
First crossings made from Azad Kashmir into Indian zone JAMMU, Nov 28 (AFP) - Five people from Azad Kashmir on Monday crossed the heavily militarised border into the Indian zone of the divided Himalayan region, police said. It was the first time that people from Azad Kashmir had crossed into the Indian zone of the region shattered by the October 8 earthquake, said S.D.S Jamwal, police chief of Poonch district. The five entered through the Mendhar-Tatapani crossing point in Poonch, 210 kilometres (130 miles) northwest of Jammu, a police spokesman said. Five others including two children aged seven and four were refused permission to cross because they did not have valid travel documents, the spokesman said. Earlier this month, 42 residents of Indian Kashmir crossed into Azad Kashmir in three batches starting November 19. India and Pakistan, who have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since 1947, agreed to open the border to earthquake relief shipments. The two sides also agreed to let Kashmiris cross the border to check on relatives and help reconstruction efforts, besides seeking medical treatment. But names must be approved in advance. Some 73,000 people were killed in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir while 1,300 died on the Indian side in the quake. The two countries began peace talks in January 2004 in an attempt to settle the Kashmir dispute and other issues.(Posted @ 23:22 PST)
Durrani thanks President, Federl government for quick response to the national tragedy PESHAWAR Nov 28 (APP): NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said Monday the province had so far received Rs.6.5 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the quake affected areas and thanked President Pervez Musharraf and the Federal Government for their quick and timely response. Talking to newsmen he said his government would come hard on elements found guilty of misusing the quake relief fund. Durrani also said he would attend the future meetings of the National Security Council (NSC).Nobody should feel hurt at my participation in the NSC meeting", he said.(Posted @ 19:55 PST)
JUI pledges 20,000 houses for earthquake affectees Karachi, November 28, (PPI): The Jamait Ulama-e-Islam will provide 20,000 houses for the affectees of earthquake, JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced here Monday. Talking to newsmen after inspecting a "shuttle home" made by Al-Khair Trust, he said he had ordered his partymen to intensify efforts for quick rehabilitation of the earthquake victims. He said that according to his information overseas Pakistanis and others were sending relief goods directly to various NGOs and there were some hitches regarding their delivery. He asked the government to remove these bottlenecks. Commenting on the parliamentary committee formed by the government for monitoring of relief operations etcf., the Leader of Opposition said they would not accept membership of this committee till the suggestions of the opposition got positive response. He stressed that if the government really wanted a parliamentary committee, it should empower it.(Posted @ 19:42 PST)
533,056 tents provided to quake survivors ISLAMABAD, Nov 28 (APP): A total of 533,056 tents have been provided so far to the quake survivors in the affected areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP. According to Federal Relief Commission (FRC), 4256631 blankets and 65698.21 tons of ration have also been provided up to November 27. Besides, 3234.654 tons of medicines and 8309.766 tons miscellaneous items were also sent to the quake affected areas. On Sunday (Nov 27), about 28915 tents, 59737 blankets, 7.47 tons ration and 55.17 tons of miscellaneous items were despatched. In AJK, a total 14241 of shelters were constructed while work was in progress on other 936 shelters. Upto November 27, an amount of Rs. 5495.392 million has been distributed in AJK and Rs. 3952.955 million in NWFP. Two more telephone exchanges have resumed functioning in the quake affected areas. On Monday, 38 air sorties were carried out.(Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Snow cuts off road to quake-hit zone in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, Nov 28 (AFP) - The first major snowfall this season in Occupied Kashmir Monday cut off one of two areas hard hit by the devastating earthquake last month, police said. "The snow has cut off Tangdhar sector," a spokesman said adding that more than 30 inches (75 centimetres) of snow had accumulated at Sadna Pass, the 10,000-foot (3,030-metre) crest of the 175-kilometer (108-mile) road between Srinagar and Tangdhar. That means untold hardships for the quake victims. The snowfall also closed the highway to frontier districts of Kargil and Leh, the spokesman said, adding the road would not reopen until April.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
U.S. contributions rise to $527m for quake victims LAHORE Nov 28-(PPI): The U.S. assistance to Pakistan earthquake relief. has been increased by $17 million, bringing the total contribution to $527 million as of November 26. The Department of Agriculture has agreed to provide $12 million dollars worth of wheat to Pakistan to replenish its stocks by over 46,000 tons to enable Pakistan to transfer an equal amount of wheat to the World Food Program for immediate delivery to quake affected areas prior to the winter snowfall. Meanwhile, the U.S. has recently completed 1,000-ton airlift of additional relief supplies for quake victims, supplementing the 7,134 tons of tents, blankets, food and supplies already brought in by special flights. Another $5 million has been given from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund that will be used to meet unexpected Urgent humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees and other victims of the earthquake. In a sign that the U.S. private sector is joining the effort, the recent visit of 3 top CEOs to the earthquake zone is already bearing fruit. They have set a target of $100 million by January 31. Corporate contributions have reached $45 million already, and a web page in both English and Urdu www.southasiaearthquakerelief.org, was created to channel their fund-raising effort.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
Army, NGOs build 18,269 shelter homes in NWFP, AJK Rawalpindi, Nov 28 (PPI) Army Engineers in collaboration with the NGOs have so far built 18,269 shelters for the quake victims of NWFP and Azad Kashmir, at sites between 5000-8000 feet altitude, while another 4750 shelters are under construction and will be completed within a few days. These are in villages of Patiks, Reali, Tithwal, Lipa, Gari Dupatta, Hatian Balla, Chikar Khas, Chakoti in Azad Kashmir and villages of Shoal Najaf, Mahandri, Kawai, Shogran Jareed,Paras, Dadar, Jabori, Sacha Kalan, Gari Habib Ullah and surrounding areas of Shinkiari and Allai. In Azad Kashmir 14,241 shelter homes have been completed while 936 are under construction. In the district of Bagh 2204 shelters have been constructed and 450 in Rawlakot. In NWFP, 4019 shelters have been completed while 3814 are under construction. Each shelter home is constructed over an area of 200 square feet and is made of CGI sheets and wooden frame.(Posted @ 17:42 PST)
Pakistani quake relief helicopters back in the air MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Pakistani earthquake relief operations were back on track on Monday a day after the first harsh winter weather grounded helicopter flights and disrupted some road transport. By late morning Army and international agency helicopters had resumed operations said Major Farooq Nasir, an army spokesman in the quake zone. On Sunday, up to 8 inches (20 cm) of snow fell in some high-altitude areas and up to 1.2 inches (32 mm) of rain drenched some lower areas and forced suspension of relief operations. The aid agencies are racing to ensure that hundreds of thousands of homeless survivors get adequate shelter and enough food to see them through a bitter winter. If not, disease could sweep through cold, poorly nourished survivors, causing a second wave of deaths, aid officials say.(Posted @ 17:15 PST)
Lord Nazir assures British support for earthquake survivors ISLAMABAD, Nov 28 (APP): Lord Nazir Ahmad addressing a press conference Sunday said he started a campaign to collect donations for the quake victims and as a result of these efforts 4.3 million pounds have been collected. A London mosque donated 100 tons of metallic sheets for the quake affectees.(Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Earthquake of mild intensity recorded in Balochistan PESHAWAR, Nov 28 (APP): An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the International Richter Scale was recorded in Balochistan on Monday at 1036 hours. Met office said its epicenter lied about 500 kilometers southwest of Peshawar . There were no reports of casualties or damage to property.(Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Tent village for 40,000 survivors to be ready in week: Relief Commissioner ISLAMABAD, Nov 28 (APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir Relief Commissioner Khawaja Saleem Bismil Monday said that a tent village (capacity about 40,000) would be ready within a week. It is being set up with the help of UNHCR. He told Ptv about 57,000 people had already been provided shelter in winterised tent villages in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Neelum and Jhelum valleys. He also said about 4,000 trucks carrying relief goods had reached AJK. Relief goods and food items in Neelum and Jhelum valleys were being dropped by helicopters. He appealed to the NGOs and volunteers not to leave the affected areas till March.(Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Musharraf urges volunteers to help quake survivors LAHORE Nov 28 (APP) - President Pervez Musharraf Monday urged members of the National Volunteer Movement (NVM) to play a key role in the early rehabilitation of the quake survivors of Azad and Jammu Kashmir and North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Inaugurating the launch ceremony of the NVM universities chapter, he said all-out efforts are being made to ensure proper implementation of the strategy evolved for the early rehabilitation of quake survivors and reconstruction of affected areas, through transparency and accountability 'of international level'. He reiterated that funds made available by foreign and local donors would be utilized exclusively and judiciously for reconstruction of the infrastructure . He said the government has evolved to manage resources, and is now implementing the strategy in a transparent manner, coupled with immaculate accountability.The same level of momentum and spirit of volunteerism must continue until the country accomplishes the task of complete rehabilitation and reconstruction in the quake-hit areas, he added.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
15-Member APHC team to visit Pakistan, AJK SRINAGAR, November 28 (APP): A 15-member Hurriyat delegation led by APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is to visit quake ravaged areas in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir with relief goods.According to Kashmir Media Service, members of the delegation monday applied to the Regional Passport Office, in Srinagar, for issuance of travel documents. The members of the delegation besides the Mirwaiz are: Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Bilal Ghani Lone, Fazal Haq Qureshi, Zafar Akbar Butt, Javed Ahmed Mir, Mohammad Yousuf Naqash, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Saleem Gilani, Abdul Manan Bukhari, Shaukat Ahmed Keng, Mohammad Amin Qureshi, Bashir Ahmed Kanth, Imam Hai of main Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, Masroor Abbas Ansari son of Maulvi Abbas Ansari, who will represent the Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, and a representative of the Muslim Conference led by Prof Abdul Ghani Bhutt.(First Posted @ 15:35 PST Updated @ 18:25)
Mild Tremor in IHK SRINAGAR, November 28 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, a mild tremor was recorded here today, but there were no reports of any damage to life or property so far, reports Kashmir Media Service. Met Director in Srinagar said the tremor was recorded at around 11.07 am, adding the department was calculating its intensity and epicenter. Another moderate tremor was recorded on Sunday at 1829 hours. "The magnitude was 5.2 on the Richter scale while its epicenter was in Pakistan," he added. There was no loss of life or property in the two aftershocks recorded so far. More than 120 aftershocks have been recorded in occupied Kahmir since the massive earthquake of October 8.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Widespread rain and snowfall over hills in quake affected areas ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP): Widespread rain and snowfall over hills in earthquake-affected areas has made weather further cold and harsh which is likely to continue for the next couple of days, the state television reported. More rain is forecast for Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot, Chakothi, Neelum Valley, Mansehra, Balakot, Buttgram, Allai, Kaghan, Naran and other quake-hit areas. Snowfall also occurred at a number of places in northern areas including Malamjabba, Lowari Top and light snowfall in Kaghan, Naran, Allai and Murree. Islamabad also received its first winter rainfall last night with heavy thunder and light rain has been predicted for upper parts of Punjab and upper NWFP in the next 48 hours.(Posted @ 12:00 PST)
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