ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Ambassadors and senior diplomats, based in the federal capital, have said that the Oct 8 earthquake in Pakistan was a global tragedy and it needs a global response.

Addressing a function under the aegis of Tehrik-e-Akhuwat-e- Islami (TAI), here on Sunday, Indonesian ambassador Anwar Santoso, Peter Wilson of the British High Commission, Kaven Thomas of the US embassy and others expressed condolence and sympathies to the victims.

Speaking on this occasion Senator Nisar Memon, who is head of ruling PML’s relief committee, said that despite a great response, the international community needs to do much more for the quake victims.

“We are still going through relief-and-rescue phase while the challenging phase of reconstruction-and-rehabilitation is ahead.” He said rough estimates suggest cost of the re-building may go beyond $5 billion.

Senator Memon said despite all odds including bad weather conditions, continued aftershocks and land-sliding— the relief operation is in full swing. And the focus is on supplying tents and blankets to all affected people before the onset of winter. This requires more and more helicopters and he asked friendly countries to help the country.

The senator said people in general and youth of the country in particular have demonstrated complete solidarity in the hour of trial and their spontaneous response saved many lives.

TAI chairman Allama Inayat Ali Shakir in his address underlined the need for inter-faith harmony.