Quake survivors need shelter, demands HR body
Over one lakh dead, seven lakh homeless in worst hit areas
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—More than one hundred thousand people have so far died in Muzaffarabad, Neelam valley, Jehlum valley and Bagh, and over seven hundred thousands have become homeless only in Muzafarabad and Neelam valley in October 8 devastating earthquake, which hit the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.
Chairman of Human Rights Commission of Jammu and Kashmir Hamayun Zaman Mirza addressing a press conference here on Tuesday said that the October 8 earthquake had completely destroyed the capital of AJK, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Neelam, Jehlum vallies, Rawalkot, Bala Kot, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Batal, Kohistan and the suburb villages.
He said that the rains and snowfall had added to the miseries of the victims and appealed to the President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to send the relief goods to quake affected people, as they were in dire need of shelter. He said they would die of cold if tents and blankets were not provided immediately. He said that the government should distribute the relief goods and money sent by the world community.
Mirza said that thousands of dead bodies of children, man and women were still laying under the rubbles of collapsed houses in Muzaffarabad, Neelam valley, Bagh and Jehlum valley. There were dead bodies in every home, he said.
He said that the administration of Azad Kashmir had completely destroyed. He said that those who had become homeless, they could not find their parents, brothers and sisters.
Appreciated the courage and assistance of the nation, he thanked the people for extending helping hand to their Kashmiri brethren in this critical time. He said that Kashmirirs of both sides thanked the Pakistani nation for generously helping quake affectees.
He also thanked the international community for providing timely assistance, and said that if the world community had not helped in time, the death toll would more than the present.
He welcomed the establishment of President Relief Fund and Prime Minister Relief Fund for the quake victims, who appealed to the world community and the nation to deposit their donations in their funds for quake victims.
He also appreciated the relief efforts of political parties and their leaders including former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto, PPP, Mian Nawaz Sharif of PML-N, Ji’s Qazi Hussain Ahmad, MQM’s Altaf Hussain, PTI chief Imran Khan, renowned social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi and other social workers and NGOs.
He appealed to Muslim Ummah, European Union, United Nations, international human rights commission and other world rights bodies to extend assistance in providing shelter to homeless quake affectees.