Pakistan Speeds Up Relief Effort Quake-Hit Areas

Text of report by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency

Islamabad, 15 October: Rescue and relief operation in quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir, NWFP [North West Frontier Province] and northern areas was continuing at much accelerated pace.

According to PTV the operation has now been extended to the far flung and inaccessible areas. Various helicopters, road services and mules are being used aimed at ensuring prompt delivery to the affected families.

Search for those still lying alive under the debris was continuing with the help of foreign experts. Hundreds of doctors from home and friendly countries were providing emergency medical aid to the affectees.

Fifteen field hospitals set by the government, various NGOs and foreign teams were operating in the tremor hit areas. Seriously injured persons are being transported to hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad while others are treated in field camps.

The international telecommunication union has provided 55 satellite phones to the government. After hectic efforts, the Pakistan Army personnel have opened the Hasan Abdal-Batgram, Thakot- Bisham, Gilgit-Khunjrab, Gilgit-Skardu, Mansehra-Balakot, Mahandari- Naran and Naran-Swat roads for traffic.

In some areas, round the clock work continued to restore the land routes. A 65-member team of Punjab government officials has arrived in Muzaffarabad to help re-establish the structure of Azad Kashmir government.

Dispatch of food, water, medicines, warm clothes and other essential items to different affected areas is going on at a large scale. According to army aviation Commander Maj-Gen Javed Aslam, 70 helicopters drawn from Pakistan army, the United States, Germany and Afghanistan are also involved in this operation. He said more helicopters are needed to carrying out the relief operation.