January 16, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 15, 1426

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

RAWALPINDI, Jan 15: Speakers at an international conference here on Sunday emphasized early rehabilitation of the earthquake- affected people with a special focus on resolving the socio- economic and psychological problems of the survivors. The three-day conference “Earthquake 10/8: social, human and gender issues” has been jointly organized by the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, and the University of Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission.

Academicians, educationists, social scientists and psychologists from different universities in the country and abroad are participating in the conference.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool said reconstruction work would start after the completion of a survey being conducted to ensure proper rehabilitation of the survivors.

The whole infrastructure including houses, roads and schools will be reconstructed, he added.

He said there would be no relocation of the displaced people and they would be resettled on the places where they resided before. Also, the camps in which they are housed at present would not be considered as their permanent abodes.

Turkish Ambassador Hasan Kemal Gur, who was to present a key- note speech, could not turn up. His message was read out by the third secretary of the embassy, Mert Ozmert.

He said the October 8 earthquake was the greatest natural disaster in Pakistan’s history. “No country in the world can alone deal with such a serious human tragedy when it does not have any past experience in dealing with such disasters,” Mr Ozmert said.

He said soon after the news was heard in Turkey, the government as well as the public mobilized their efforts to assist Pakistan as much as possible. Special departments and organizations were established to provide assistance.

Official search and rescue teams together with NGOs were immediately sent to Pakistan, he said. Turkish teams, he said, were found to be the first ones to reach the affected areas to launch relief operations.

General Directorate of Turkish Emergency Management Agency, Turkish Red Crescent Association, education ministry and department of religious affairs as well as some municipalities have also launched fund-raising campaigns and collected humanitarian assistance, he added.

All banks in Turkey have opened accounts for collecting aid. He said the Turkish Red Crescent had signed an agreement with three major Turkish firms in order to collect donations through SMS for the survivors.

Mr Ozmert said Pakistan and Turkey had centuries-old historic relations. Indeed, he added, the people of the two countries had been bound by unshakable bonds. The Turkish nation has not forgotten the financial support and solidarity extended to them by the Muslims of the subcontinent during the Turkish War of Independence.

“We have also never forgotten the prayers offered in mosques of the subcontinent for success of the Turkish War of Liberation. All these facts will keep brightening our common cultural history till eternity,” he said.

Giving details of the aid and assistance, he said Turkey had sent 17 military, eight civilian aircraft and 12 ships, containing flour, powder sugar, cooking oil, medicines, medical equipment, tents, canvas, camping material, blankets, sleeping bags, ovens and food items.

The total weight of the humanitarian assistance was around 61,750 tons and the value of the aid amounted to around $73 million, he said. The Turkish Red Crescent has also purchased and distributed 11,000 tents, food and medical items to the affected families. The total value of these items is around $3 million.

Mr Ozmert said the Turkish prime minister during his visit to Pakistan had pledged $150 million donation, adding that about $30 million of that amount would be provided soon. Besides, a 12- member technical team of experts in geology and seismology is in Pakistan to ascertain the inhabitation possibilities in the affected areas.

They have completed a seismic survey mainly in Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh. Its report, he said, would be submitted to Pakistan soon. Based on this report, he said, Turkey planned to construct houses in the earthquake regions.

He said the 81-member TRC team was still busy in relief activities. It has established six tent villages in Balakot, Jalabad, Bandi, Chattian, Jhattian and Islamabad, and was planning to provide shelter to around 70,000 people.

The TRC has also established one field hospital with 20 Turkish doctors and psychologists in Muzaffarabad.

The Turkish doctors have vaccinated around 40,000 people and provided first aid to around 100,000 survivors.

In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor FJWU Dr Najma Najam spoke about the magnitude of the disaster. She, however, was impressed with the response shown by donors, NGOs, philanthropists and volunteers both at the national and international levels.

She said the FJWU was also involved in providing humanitarian assistance to the affected people. She underlined the need for resolving the socio-economic, psychological and mental problems being faced by the survivors.