NATO has chosen to ignore the world body's call to immediately launch a massive airlift operation to evacuate hundreds of thousands of survivors stranded in the inaccessible areas of the region devastated by October 8 killer earthquake. Instead, it shall send 500 to 1,000 troops and a few helicopters to beef up the grossly inadequate fleet of choppers involved in relief and rescue work in Azad Kashmir and the hilly areas of NWFP's Hazara Division. Earlier, U.N.' top executive concerned with humanitarian affairs had called upon the Alliance to start an airlift operation on the lines of 1948-1949 evacuation of Germans stranded in the Soviet blocked city of West Berlin.The world body had warned that if the survivors including thousands of injured, children and women were not evacuated there would be a second wave of deaths due to cold, hunger and absence of health care facilities. The NATO unfortunately however feels that no comparison could be drawn between the situation in West Berlin and the devastated affectess fighting desperately for their survival in the Himalayan region hit by the colossal catastrophe.
Over four millions have been rendered homeless, tens of thousands have been killed, countless bodies remain buried under debris of collapsed structures, close to 100,000 injured, thousands incapacitated for life and wounds of many more are festering. While an estimated 500,000 tents are immediately required, not even 10 per cent living in the open have now been accommodated in hurriedly set up camps. The health care network in the fortunate adjacent areas is at a breaking point. The Government estimates it would require exclusively for reconstruction U.S. $ 5 billion against which some 67 countries as also international organizations and NGOs have so far committed to provide U.S. $773 million. While we express our deepest sense of gratitude to the peoples of the world to assist us in this hour of monumental loss of human life and property, President Musharraf has told BBC that this is totally inadequate. The nations of the world have a moral responsibility to help the devastated millions in Azad Kashmir and NWFP's adjacent hilly areas. Immediate international help is needed before the winter devours thousands languishing in their hilltop villages where there is rubble and increasing stench from the decaying bodies which could not be pulled out. This natural calamity could befall any other nation.
All citizens of the world are members of the human race. It is their bounden obligation to help other humans in distress. Political, racial or religious considerations are above humanity. The world must act and act fast. May we remind the international community that Turkey and a few other countries have decided to share our pain. The remaining nations ,particularly the rich ones, must emulate their lofty example of humanitarian assistance If we fail to save the lives of hundreds and thousands of survivors, our conscience will continue to prick us. The peoples of the world must rise without further loss of time to come to the rescue of tens of thousands dying inch by inch.

Beyond borders

THE tragedy of Pakistan quake continues to unfold 14 days after the scenic Kashmir was rocked to its roots. The death toll has crossed 79,000 and we haven’t heard the last of it. Many towns and villages with their inhabitants remain buried under uprooted mountains and tones and tones of debris. If thousands of lives were instantly snuffed out by the big temblor on October 8, thousands more may have perished after the quake with aid not reaching them on time. There has been some justified criticism of the inadequate response to the catastrophe by the authorities. But perhaps the sheer scale of the disaster explains the delay in reaching the much-needed aid. As a UN official has pointed out, the deep valleys and high mountains of Kashmir are far less accessible for relief workers than the area affected by the 2003 Bam quake in Iran or the long coastline in Asian countries devastated in last year’s tsunami. There are over 15,000 villages spread across a wide area known for its incredibly beautiful valleys and mountains. Unfortunately, it’s this breathtaking landscape that is today hampering the rescue and relief effort even as the authorities, aid agencies and charity organisations race against time to help and save as many lives as they can.
Clearly, this is a massive effort of immense proportions, which needs support from everyone who can help. And aid is indeed pouring in from all over the world — from charity organisations to individuals to governments. As always, the UAE was quick to respond to the call for help contributing far beyond expected of its size. The relief of US$100 million promptly announced by the UAE government must have shamed many a big player on the world stage. But if there is a positive aspect to this appalling tragedy, it is certainly the breach of the Line of Control, the Berlin wall that divides Kashmir and India and Pakistan. So the move by the sub-continent neighbours to open the artificial geographical divide allowing the Kashmiris on either side to visit and reach out to their family and friends is an acknowledgement of the overwhelming desire for peace that exists on both sides. This disaster has reminded the people of South Asia once again how deeply entrenched their ties are. The leaders of India and Pakistan would do well to build on this goodwill and the opportunity for peace presented in the quake. The forces of Nature have made borders and the Line of Control between India and Pakistan irrelevant. Shouldn’t the South Asian neighbours learn something from Nature?

—Khaleej Times