October 2005
Army sets up help lines to redress complaints about relief
The Pakistan Army has set up Help Lines at Mansehra, Battagram, Balakot, Shinkiari, Garhi Habibullah, Besham, Khaki and Chattar Plain areas of NWFP. These Help Lines will work round the clock and complaints, problems regarding relief operations will be recorded for immediate action to the staff on duty.
Following are the phone numbers of the Help Lines:
Mansehra (0997) 305781, 301656, 305271.
Batagram (0997) 312083, 311019
Balakot (0997) 501041,501383…
Shinkiari (0997) 530016
Garhi Habibullah (0997)451884, 451695
Bisham (0996) 400594
Khaki (0997) 351378
Chattar Plain (0997) 333011
Source: South Asia Quake Help throuhg APP
Warm Coats for Pakistan
The American Alpine Club is leading a coat drive for victims of the earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir, which has killed more than 50,000 people and left millions homeless, just as winter is approaching. Climbers and skiers almost always have extra coats lying around that seldom get used—here’s how you can do something useful with them. Send your surplus fleece and down to:
The American Alpine Club,
710 10th St.,
Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401.
The AAC will bundle the coats for shipment to Pakistan, where the Alpine Club of Pakistan will ensure they reach needy people in the mountains. The AAC also has established a Pakistan Relief Fund, which already has raised thousands of dollars for aid to mountain villages. Make a contribution online at the AAC website.
Technorati Tags: American Alpine Club, KashmirWhen soldiers cry
OCTOBER 8 was a day of incredible disaster and yet it seemed as if it was a wake-up call for slumbering Pakistanis. Television was constantly beaming scenes of destruction and death. Suddenly everyone wanted somehow to make a difference, and so began the donations of tents, blankets, warm clothing, food rations, etc.
Collecting the goods was a comparatively simple task. People generously opened their hearts and gave with fervour and enthusiasm. Now came the tough part — the distribution itself. Everyone was determined that they would personally go and participate in this noble cause. Misty-eyed, we visualized ourselves tenderly distributing supplies to groups of orderly and grateful villagers. Reality struck just 24 hours later.
The Scale of the Disaster
Just some quick facts in comparison:
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The Tsunami affected 1 million people - Pakistan’s earthquake has made 4 million homeless.
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The Tsunami affected flat coastal areas that were easier to reach - Here we are dealing with rugged mountainous terrain, which is only reachable by helicopter or heavy earth clearing equipment.
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All areas affected by Tsunami had a moderate weather - Here temperatures have already dropped to freezing point and snowfall has already started; if shelter and other aid are delayed for another week or two, an estimated half of the 4 million survivors will die.
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In case of the Tsunami, 4000 helicopters were made available by foreign countries for rescue - This region has received only 70.
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In case of the Tsunami 80% of the aid pledged by the international community to the UN was realized in two
weeks - Pakistan has just received 12% of the promised aid.
Free Eyesight Checkup & Spectacles for Quake Victims
Tanveer Optics has offered free eyesight checkup and spectacles for the quake victims (only). Tanveer Optics is located in Melody Market, Sector G-6, Islamabad. For more details please contact Syed Tanveer Ahmad at 2206620 and/or 2828239. Alternatively, you may send an e-mai to Tanveer Optics on tanweeroptical@cyber.net.pk
Source: South Asia Quake Help
Eid Gifts to kids in EarthQuake affected areas
NLC in collaboration with PTV are collecting Eid gift packs that will be distributed to the children in earthquake affected areas. They have setup 3 collection points in Karachi at Expo Center (Gulshan-e-Iqbal), Board Office (North Nazimabad) and Park Towers. You can contribute with toys, books and other kid stuff. Please make a packet and put a message on it, if you want to. You can drop the packets until Sunday evening.
Gifts for the children of Garri Habibullah and Balakot
A team of Karachi Metbloggers have taken an initiative to provide toys, clothes and entertainment stuff to the kids in earthquake affected areas. They are making “care packages” for these children. One package will cater one child and each package will contain:
- one toy (doll, car, bat/ball, football, etc)
- one candy/chocolate pack
- one suit for eid
- one eid card
These packages will hopefully reach them before eid. The contributions can be made in the form of the above mentioned items. For dropping off the goods contact hafsa.adil@lycos.com or by simply posting a comment on Karachi Metblog with a valid email address.
Technorati Tags: Karachi, Karachi MetblogFree Call Center for Coordinating Medical Professionals
ICNA Relief has established a free Call Center for Medical Professionals working in the field. It will coordinate the physicians and teams for Earthquake Relief. The call center relays the messages and sets up conference calls. The call center can be reached from inside Pakistan at 021-432-4064 and from the US by a toll free number 1-800-953-1269. At least 5 coordinators will be standing by 24/7 for all calls.
Source: South Asia Quake Help
Technorati Tags: ICNAUrgent need for emergency radio for quake survivors
Internews, a leading international media development organisation, has called for immediate action to improve the information flow to victims of the huge earthquake which hit Pakistan on 8 October, leaving over 53,000 dead and up to 3 million homeless. Local media in the disaster zone has been badly affected, with public and commercial radio broadcast stations and newspaper printing and distribution facilities largely destroyed.
Internews has already dispatched a radio production unit with a team of 12 reporters to produce programmes highlighting the immediate needs for the people in quake-hit areas in the local languages. The programmes are being aired through a private FM station in Abbottabad city in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), with a signal that can reach almost all of the tremor-hit zone of northern Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
Technorati Tags: Internews, Abbottabad, KashmirUnited Pakistan: Relief Efforts by Fakhar-e-Alam
Fakhar-e-Alam has launched yet another campaign for Earthquake support. This time it’s United Pakistan, a web site devoted for volunteer registration, support appeals, technical stuff like Google Maps of affected areas. In Fakhar-e-Alam’s own words:
People of this country, I appeal to you for your helping hand. I have taken the initiative to launch the massive relief effort campaign in collaboration with Armed Forces in Karachi and we are waiting desperately for volunteers. I don’t belong to any NGO neither do I own one; it is an individual effort on my part as a citizen of this country to help my brothers and sisters in this time of crisis.
Click here to check the list of things required by UnitedPakistan team (updated frequently)
Technorati Tags: Fakhar-e-Alam, United Pakistan, NGO