PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN LEADER
APPEALS
FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
By Michael Ireland
Saturday, October 29, 2005
PAKISTAN (ANS) -- A
Pakistani-Christian leader says that quake-ravaged Pakistan, reeling
after a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake on October 8, is now facing a
second catastrophe and a new wave of deaths if the world does not come
forward to help survivors before winter sets in. The United Nations has
also said  "catastrophe looms large."
Shahbaz Bhatti, Chairman, All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), in
an e-mail report to ANS writes that a powerful earthquake of magnitude
7.6 that struck on Saturday, October 8, 2005, at the epicenter of one
of the world's most stubborn borders close to the dividing line between
Indian and Pakistani restricted zones of the disputed Himalayan region
of Kashmir, killing and wounding thousands and leaving approximately
3.3 million homeless.
Bhatti writes: "The earthquake was the deadliest natural disaster in
the Pakistan's history. Entire villages and towns have been wiped out
from the face of the earth and large number of houses and other
buildings in North-western parts of Pakistan and the Azad Kashmir
region have been reduced to rubble in many cases, their inhabitants
missing or no more."
He says People continue to pull out decomposed dead bodies of their
nearest and dearest ones from the debris.
"(The) injured continue to suffer as many can not reach hospital and
those who are in hospitals receive poor medical treatment due to lack
of resources such as tents, medicines and medical care. Fear of the
spread of disease is also very real. Victims are suffering from
hemorrhagic fever, Gangrenous infection, cold,
tetanus and other epidemic diseases. Unhygienic conditions and severe
cold weather conditions seem to take more lives increasing the death
toll."
Bhatti says the victims include people from all faiths and walks of
life, a large number of them are young school and college students.
"Some remained trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings for
(what seemed) an eternity, only few of them could be saved from the
clutches of death."
He continues: "Now the clouds of death hang over the survivors and the
smell of bodies is more agonizing for the survivors as the bodies are
slowly decomposing."
Bhatti describes how when one of the relief trucks passes by, the
crowds f adults and children run blindly across the nearing traffic to
get the last hope of their survival. "People due to the lack of tents
have made pathetic huts where they spent their nights," he says.
"Tears can be dried, hopes can be destroyed, appetite can be removed
but thousands deaths and millions homeless just in few seconds needs
series of decades to forget this unforgettable story. A story that
takes you in a blind cave, where you feel darkness, intensity of
hopelessness, pain and grief," Bhatti explained.
In this chaotic situation, APMA has launched a massive rescue and
relief effort to help the victims of earthquake in this moment of
crisis.
"APMA Relief teams and emergency relief goods are dispatched to various
affected areas and despite treacherous terrain is trying to reach as
many victims as they could to provide them shelter, tents, blankets,
food packages, milk, water and medicines," said Bhatti.
APMA has launched a relief operation at massive scale. A few of APMA
relief efforts and activities in the calamity struck areas include:
**Base Camp: APMA set up a base camp at Balakot, where relief
operations have been launched and relief goods are sent to different
affected areas. APMA teams around the clock is serving and trying to
help people in need.
**Relief goods: APMA continues to deliver tents, blankets, food
packages, milk, water, warm clothes, candles and medicines in the
affected areas.
Bhatti says: "Many truckloads of relief goods have been delivered in
the affected areas of Mansera, Balakot, Gari Habibullah, Shankiari,
Jabbri, Muzaffarabad, and Nelam Valley and other affected areas. APMA
teams present in the affected areas are trying to reach inaccessible
areas or (places) where adequate supplies of goods are required. At
times these volunteers of APMA walk several miles with relief goods to
reach villages situated at high mountains."
 **Feeding program: APMA is providing cooked
foods daily to the victims at the base camp. More than 500 victims are
fed daily at APMA Base Camp.
**Tent villages: APMA is setting up a tent village at Balakot, and
intends to set up more tent villages in the affected areas.
"Victim's families are being accommodated in this village, where food
and other needs of the victims are also fulfilled by APMA," Bhatti
said.
APPEAL FOR HELP
APMA requests American Christians to "please make a chain with us to
give hope, to share the pain of these affected people, to wipe (away)
the tears of wounded children who lost their parents and family.
Bhatti says: "Let's kiss their innocent faces, let's put hands on the
heads of crying sisters and mothers, let's weep in memory of those who
have gone. Let's join hands together to give shelter, food and hope to
live. Let's share the suffering, pain, grief and sorrows of victims.
Let's pray for strength, rehabilitation and recovery of wounded,
destitute, shelter less victims of earthquake.
"They are waiting for your response -- let's stand with APMA to make
hopes (become reality)."
Contact Bhatti at: apmapk@yahoo.com
| ** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, California. Michael immigrated to the United
States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is
married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor
to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. |
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