ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent societies have so far received 40 per cent of its total appeal of $117 million to the international community for earthquake victims.
“I am appealing to people and governments around the world to support the federation and Pakistan Red Crescent to avert a major humanitarian disaster that may occur due to insufficient and untimely supplies,” Markku Niskala, the IFRC secretary- general, told a press conference here on Monday.
He pointed out that some member countries were giving very slow response to our appeal, adding that this factor had created the most complex relief operation ever in history.
“I can simply convey my message by saying “make no mistake” in overcoming shortage of relief assistance in the quake- shattered areas.
Mr Niskala said some of the international aid agencies operating in the quake-hit areas were about to stop their relief activities, therefore, the local NGOs must continue their assistance.
“Our operation has been able to overcome many of the problems caused by bad weather, landslides and aftershocks but these hurdles would worsen with the onset of winter, therefore, the international community must donate more and more to cope with the alarming situation,” Mr Niskala added.
The secretary-general said so far the international federation had distributed 11,000 tents, 11,000 tarpaulins and 8,000 blankets in Balakot, Batagram, Ghari Habibullah and Mansehra. More than 27,000 people have received medical treatment and some 20,000 people have been ensured access to clean water in the quake-hit areas.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Red Crescent Society Chairman Jahan Dad Khan said children villages in all the affected areas was a dire and urgent need of the day before the advent of snow season in order to save lives of hundreds of infants sleeping in the open.
“Rebuilding of Chinari Degree College in Muzaffarabad and establishment of tent schools for children is our second priority in the course of time,” he added.
APP Adds: Pakistan on Monday sought assistance from the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent societies in artificial limbs technology for thousands of injured who had to undergo amputations after the October 8 earthquake.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri in a meeting with IFRC Secretary-General Markku Dapani Niskala asked the federation to share its expertise in helping build Pakistan’s capacity in prosthesis.
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake has killed over 73,000 and critically injured over 69,000 people in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP.
The foreign minister appreciated the federation’s commitment and support to Pakistan in relief efforts and their humanitarian efforts in the disaster-affected areas.
Apart from focus on shelter, tents and medical supply to the affected people, Foreign Minister Kasuri also discussed the long- term recovery and rehabilitation of the affected people.
They also discussed the donors conference for mobilization of international support for reconstruction on November 19 in Islamabad. The IFRC secretary-general would also participate in the conference.
Markku Dapani Niskala said the federation was working in a well coordinated way with the government, Pakistan Red Crescent Society and other UN teams.
A meeting of the IFRC has been convened in Seoul to highlight the scale of the disaster and the need for support and resources.