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| December 4, 2005 | Sunday | Ziqa’ad 1, 1426 |
Prime Minister visits MQM site producing folding houses for quake-hit KARACHI, Dec 4 (APP)- Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz Saturday visited Jinnah Ground, near the headquarters of Muttahida Quami Movement, here to see the folding houses manufactured by MQM for the quake affectees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister, after going round the workshop, addressed the people gathered there to welcome him. He thanked chief of MQM, Altaf Hussain and the party workers for extending all possible support to quake affectees -- from rescue and relief to rehabilitation activity. These make-shift houses were also the best gift for them."I salute your voluntary spirit," Shaukat Aziz said. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the entire nation, from Karachi to Khyber, had shown high spirit in rescue and relief operation by generously donating cash, kind and through physical involvement. This devastating quake was certainly a big trial for the nation. Through this exemplary national spirit, he continued, the country would be sailing successfully through all the odds and enjoy a high profile in the comity of nations. Shaukat Aziz said the Government wanted to further promote this spirit among the people. Hence, an organised national movement of volunteers had been launched to formalise this spirit which would prove a great asset to the country. About the current situation in quake hit areas, the Prime Minister said all the essential requirements including medicines and kitchen items were being duly supplied there. "There was no shortage of any thing, but shelter from rains, cold and snow-fall," he remarked.(Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Quake survivors provided 23,000 emergency shelter kits ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (APP): Over 23,000 emergency shelter kits have so far been provided to the quake survivors in collaboration with Pakistan Army to enable them to build their own shelters. A ninety days plan has been devised by the United Nations for providing food, nutrition and access of water and sanitation to the quake survivors. About 100,000 more tents would be supplied in the quake affected areas for protecting survivors from severe cold, PTV reported. New sites have also been identified for establishing more camps to provide shelter to 250,000 people during the next six months. About 36,000 people have been accommodated in 30 camps established by the United Nations. The government has taken full responsibility for taking care of the destitute, widows and orphans. They would be placed under the protection of the ministry of social welfare and for their permanent rehabilitation. Supply of relief goods by helicopters and provision of medical treatment to the needy was also continuing. Foreign NGOs are also actively participating in providing wheel chairs and artificial limbs to the disabled. Educational activities in the quake affected areas were also gaining momentum in tent schools set up by the volunteers. (Posted @ 21:55 PST)
ActionAid gets support of British paper to help quake victim LONDON Dec 4(APP) A leading British daily would run one of the charities ActionAid's appeal every Sunday to help quake- victims in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir where freezing weather has already increased woes of survivors. One of the leading British dailies on Sunday said it had chosen the ActionAid which is already involved in relief efforts in the quake- hit areas "to benefit from its Christmas Appeal, helping people affected by the recent earthquake in Pakistan."(Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Private Japanese aid for Quake victims soars to Y 1.3 billion ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (APP): Japanese aid from non-governmental sources in both cash and kind for the relief assistance of quake victims has soared to 1.33 billion Yen ($ 1.2 million), while campaign for more donations continues. Out of the total donations, 136.3 million Yen have been transferred through the President's Relief Fund, whereas donations amounting 454.2 million Yen have been routed through Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), said a Pakistan Embassy press release received here from Tokyo. Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) have jointly launched, on December 1, a month long special "Helping Hand Campaign" in Japan to create awareness about the relief operations and to raise more donations, it added. Ambassador Kamran Niaz made a short presentation at the inaugural ceremony of the campaign regarding the devastation caused by the October 8, earthquake. He outlined Pakistan's needs in the massive reconstruction and rehabilitation process. A part of private Japanese cash contributions are being sent for the victims through UN agencies like UNICEF and others. While some of the relief goods are hauled to the quake-hit areas through Japanese NGOs as well. The Pakistanin embassy in Japan had organised a seminar in collaboration with international exchange organization to broaden the understanding of the Japanese public about the plight of the quake survivors. Food festivals and fund raising dinners had also helped to raise donations for the affected people.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
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