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| November 29, 2005 | Tuesday | Shawwal 26, 1426 |
AJK PM asks affectees to utilize compensation for constructing new houses Muzaffarabad, Nov 29 (PPI) Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan Tuesday asked affectees to construct their own new houses with the compensation amount of Rs 1,75, 000 each. Addressing a ceremony in-connection with funds distribution among widows and orphans by the Al-Mustafa welfare society, Mohammadia Islamic center Italy, Gurdawara Parbandhak Committee of Sikhs and other NGOs here, he said utilization of the compensation would enable affectees to shift in their own new houses by April 2006.(Posted @ 22:30 PST)
Tents being replaced with shelter houses in quake-hit areas BALAKOT, Nov 29 (APP): As rains and first snowfall of this winter added to the miseries of quake-stricken people in NWFP and AJK, the government has shifted its focus from tents to shelter houses, Brig. Abdul Quddus Khattak told newsmen here Monday during the visit of Minister of State for Information Anisa Zeb Tahirkhlei who also inaugurated a computerized Database and Resource Center. The computer equipment has been donated by Full Gospel Assemblies (FGA) Church, Lahore. Brig. Khattak said the army has so far constructed over 1300 such shelter houses with the help of local population. The one-room shelter house (20 feet long and 10 feet wide) costs about Rs 10,000. Walls have been raised on self-help basis for another 1700 such houses and we will now provide them sheets, he said. “We have already stored food and rations in the area that can meet requirements for upto four months,” Brig. Khattak said in reply to a question. He said the army and NGOs have established 31 tent villages in Balakot area where 22,200 people are being accommodated with free food, ration, medical and schooling facilities. Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli also visited the army base in Shinkiari, Tehsil Mansehra, inaugurated a computerized database center at Shinkiari base, donated by Human Rights Peace and Justice, and was briefed by Brig. Abdul Aziz Tariq about the relief and rehabilitation activities in the area. Brig. Aziz said the distribution of compensation cheques for dead has almost been completed in the area, while the distribution of compensation cheques for the injured and the damage to houses was under process. Prof. Liaquat Qaiser, Chairman of FGA Church, said the FGA Church will consider the `own a village' scheme both for Balakot and Shinkiari .(Posted @ 18:38 PST)
Hillary Clinton helps raise $360,000 at a benefit for quake victims NEW YORK, Nov 29 (APP) -- With US Senator Hillary Clinton as the chief guest, a total of $360,000 was raised at a benefit for the victims of earthquake victims in Pakistan in a ceremony at Asia Society. In a speech on Monday before some 300 members of Asia Society and concerned American citizens, Mrs. Clinton called for stepped up efforts to raise more funds for the immediate needs of some 3 million disaster-affected people whose problems have been compounded by the onset of severe wintry conditions. Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram was among those present.(Posted @ 12:50 PST)
All out efforts continue to help survivors in cold weather: ISPR ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (APP): Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Shaukat Sultan has said that government is making all out efforts to ensure protective measures in the quake-hit areas against severe winter. "We know that cold will increase in the quake-stricken areas due to rain and snowfall which normally starts after November," the ISPR DG told BBC Radio. For this reason, priority is being given to the relief operations at the areas above 5000 feet high, he said. He said efforts have been geared up to set up shelters in the affected areas, adding, about 10,000 temporary houses have so for been constructed with 3000 more under construction. He said over 0.5 million tents have already been despatched to the quake-affected areas so far. Responding to a question about reported lack of tents and other basic facilities in some affected areas he said, October 8 earthquake was a great natural disaster for which extraordinary steps were required to meet such situation. He said the government was doing its best in this regard. To another question he said the bad weather may hamper the supply of relief good through helicopters but the problem would be solved by keeping the roads opened. "We can supply relief goods to the quake-affected people by road," he added. Rejecting the criticism by certain elements about the slow pace of relief activities he said, according to UNHCR report, the relief goods and tents have been supplied in all the quake-hit areas.(Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Hundreds of children with pneumonia in Pakistan quake zone: official MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, Nov 29 (AFP) - Hundreds of children have come down with pneumonia after the bitter Himalayan winter swept into quake-ravaged Pakistan, a health official said Tuesday. "Pneumonia has spread among children, according to data received from different places," said district health officer in Muzaffarabad, the ruined capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The United Nations said late Monday that two children -- a three-month-old boy and a young girl -- had died of suspected pneumonia after the first snowfall of the winter in northern Pakistan and Kashmir at the weekend. A middle-aged man was also said to have died of hypothermia. The cold weather has added extra urgency to efforts by aid agencies to get tents and food to survivors of the October 8 earthquake that laid waste to much of the region. More than 73,000 people died in Pakistan and 1,300 in India. A further 3.5 million lost their homes.(Posted @ 11:35 PST)
British Govt, individuals to continue support to quake victims : Dr Howells KARACHI, Nov. 29 (APP) : " We have been determined, as a government, to ensure that the money is not just pledged but is spent to benefit those most severely affected by the recent earthquake in Pakistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir," British Minister for State at Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dr Kim Howells says. Private individuals and groups of volunteers from the UK including doctors had come to Pakistan to help in whatever way they could. British officers associated with the UN Joint Logistics Chondri, had devised a plan to supply 100 tonnes of food a day by helicopter, to help keep three and a half million people alive in quake hit areas. He informed that last week UK announced an increase in British funds to support the relief effort bringing the UK's total pledged assistance to over 220 million dollars so far. A further 72 million dollars had been donated by the British public through our national appeal.(Posted @ 09:35 PST)
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