July 09, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 23, 1428

QUETTA, July 8: A number of international donor agencies, including various United Nations bodies, have offered to provide help to the Balochistan government in providing relief to cyclone- and flood-affected people. A meeting of representatives of these organisations and institutions was held here on Sunday which was presided over by Chief Secretary K.B. Rind.

Representatives of these organisations, Inspector-General of Police Tariq Masood Khosa, Brig Kamran of the National Disaster Management Authority, Brig Waqar of Southern Command and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

Mr Rind briefed the meeting on the destruction caused by the recent cyclone, rains and floods, affecting 21 out 29 districts of Balochistan. He said because of the natural calamity, the province had suffered huge losses as communication network had been completely destroyed in affected areas while over 2.5 million people affected.

He said that around 200,000 to 250,000 people had been rendered homeless. He urged UN and other aid agencies to take part in relief and rehabilitation process in concert with the National Disaster Management Authority.

He said the government was trying its best to provide maximum relief to the marooned people and the prime minister had announced Rs200 million aid immediately for the cyclone- and flood-hit areas whereas President Gen Pervez Musharraf had announced Rs15000 in cash for each affected family.

He said that with joint efforts of various institutions and the government roads and communication network and gas and power supply had been restored in about 90 per cent areas and link of Balochistan with other provinces had been restored after the repair of the damaged portion of the Mekran Coastal Highway.