Quake death toll crosses 39,000
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—Federal Relief Commissioner (FRC), Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan Sunday said that death toll has touched the figure of 39422 in the ferocious earthquake including 14000 in NWFP.
Briefing newsmen here, he said 65000 persons were injured, adding rescue work in the affected areas was in full swing. Army was doing its utmost to take relief goods to remote areas in rough terrain.
He said main roads to the affected areas have been opened for traffic while roads in Kaghan, Neelum and Jhelum valleys were still closed. These would take time in reopening.
He said airdrops were a regular exercise and relief goods in rugged hilly areas in Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
About financial assistance for the quake affectees, Maj.Gen.Farooq said that $528 million including $330 million by various countries and $106 million have been promised by international organizations where as $41 million by NGOs. Various countries have pledged $51 to the United Nations.
He said Rs four billion has been pledged locally.
He said the priority of the rescue teams is to accelerate distribution of relief goods and to transport the injured for treatment by air. The air operations are currently operating in the NWFP, but grounded in AJK due to severe weather conditions,he added.
To a question about crash of helicopter, he said an Army helicopter crashed in the affected areas in Kashmir while returning to Islamabad.
Maj.Gen Farooq said the second priority areas are to centralize collection of relief supplies. Appreciating generous donations, he said more supplies are needed,specifically tents, blankets and medicines.
He asked the individuals donors and relief organizations to deliver goods to the central collection points to avoid blockages on already clogged roads. The Federal Relief Commission will distribute relief items to the known locations affected by quake, he added.
He said collection points have been established at ERC warehouse Islamabad, Race course grounds in Rawalpindi and Bhara Kahu, adding that the donors should contact emergency call center at 0800 000 23 for any querry. He appealed to donors, organizations,civil workers to expedite supply of winter tents, blankets, medicine. He said most needed medical supplies are tetanus vaccine, plaster of paris, injectable antibiotics, disposable syringes and pain killer tablets.
He said that 29,000 tents and 118,271 blankets have so far been distributed among the affectees besides deployment of mobile medical teams and field hospitals.
Maj. Gen.Farooq said that 33 kilometer length of kohala-Muzaffarabad, 26 km Garhi Habibulah-Muzaffarabad, 14 km Jehlem Valley, 15 km Bagh-Dhulli, 18 km Bagh-Sudhan Gali roads have so far been opened. In the NWFP, 33 km length of Mansehra-Balakot, 24 km Mansehra-Garhi Habibbullah, 622 km KKH, 80 km Thakot-Darband, four km Balakot-Kaghan and 12 km Kaghan-Naraan roads are now also open for transport, he said.
He said main grid station has been repaired and 20% electricity supply has been restored in Muzaffarabad. Supply to CMH, Secretariat, main camping/shelter area has also been restored. 12630 telephone lines have been restored and 50 Thurayas mobile phones have been distributed wherever required. He said, MES staff has been increased in Balakot and 50% supply had been restored.11202 lines have been restored and 60 Thuraya phones distributed.
Muzaffarabad has been receiving partial water supply through main lines.Ten water points for drinking water have been established and been functional.200 KVA transformer is being established at the water pumping station to supply water for areas across the river Balakot.He added water is being supplied through tanks and bowzers heavy equipment.
He said that two excavators were already working in Muzaffarabad whereas another 2 excavators of SNGPL will reach Muzaffarabad tomorrow, two cranes have been moved to Muzaffarabad while five excavators have also reached Muzaffarabad.
About relief goods, he said that 3831 tents have been sent to affected areas,14825 blankets to AJK and 17760 to NWFP. He said that the UN is arranging 20,000 blankets and 1500 tents for the affectees. He said 4000 tents are arriving from Dubai,10,000 blankets from UNHCR via India and 430 tents and 800 blankets from China.
Giving the break up of medical assistance, he said that 10 mobile teams, each consisting of one doctor and two paramedics has been dispatched to the affected areas. 14 field hospitals and 27 medical teams have already been already been there, he added.
He said the UN field hospital is arriving today and will be dispatched to Batgram. Canadian water purification plant is arriving today and will be dispatched to Muzaffarabad.
He said that 73 doctors and 17 nurses have arrived from Cuba and are being deployed in various hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Punjab government has conveyed that 25,000 beds would be made available in major cities over the next few days. Majority of foreign field hospitals are in place and fully functional.