CC Malayalam Blog

Join News Letter

Iraq War

Peak Oil

Climate Change

US Imperialism

Palestine

Communalism

Gender/Feminism

Dalit

Globalisation

Humanrights

Economy

India-pakistan

Kashmir

Environment

Gujarat Pogrom

WSF

Arts/Culture

India Elections

Archives

Links

Submission Policy

Contact Us

Fill out your
e-mail address
to receive our newsletter!
 

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

 

Pakistan Continues To Need Assistance From Effects Of 2005 Quake

By Brian McAfee

11 March, 2007
Countercurrents.org

In January reports coming out of Pakistan described a dire situation for many that continue to live in makeshift tents in the earthquake effected regions of Pakistan.

The regions most impacted by the October 8, 2005, in which 80,000 people died, were the North West frontier province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Although the earthquake was a year and a half ago it continues to have a devastating impact on the people in the effected areas. Reports coming out of Pakistan in January cite 20 deaths of children from pneumonia and chest infections. This has since risen to 45. The medical issue continues to be a factor as living conditions and poverty exaserbate the effects of the earthquake. With large numbers still living in tents acute respiratory infections and pneumonia continues to threaten lives.

While the 2005 earthquake continues to wield a crisis situation for the thousands still living in tents and the personal loss of huge numbers of our fellow humans the help and outreach by relief workers and agencies in many cases has been exemplary. Recent reports indicate that approximately 35,000 are still living in 44 temporary camps throughout the earthquake effected area.

While the international response to the ongoing Pakistan crisis has been, for the most part, excellent there are two cases that have stood out in recent reports coming out of the area. DEMIRA, a German based humanitarian aid organization with a focus on medical assistance in a partnership with Morning Star Development out of Colorado Springs has been attending to the pneumonia problem. They have been providing medical assistance when local hospitals and clinics were unable to keep up with the increase in demand.

Along with DEMIRA's and Morning Star Development's exemplary outreach another remarkable source of assistance is Cuba. A team of Cuban doctors has been helping in relief efforts in Pakistan since the 2005 quake. This year a thousand Pakistanis have been invited to Cuba to receive free medical training. Cuba is reknown for their assistance to disaster and poverty stricken areas, particularly in Africa and Latin America. Cuba has close to 30,000 people working in different assistance projects in 60 countries around the world.

The earthquake stricken region of Pakistan remains a concern in many people's hearts and minds all around the world. For updates on Pakistan and other relief efforts go to ReliefWeb.int. Also DEMIRA - demira.org; Morning Star Development - msdev.org; Relief Web - reliefweb.int (a great resource!).


Email: [email protected]



 

Get CC HeadlinesOn your Desk Top

 

Search Our Archive



Our Site

Web