ICRC to help trace families of unaccompanied children
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) would provide help to the ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education in tracing families of the unaccompanied children in the earthquake affected areas of Pakistan.
This was agreed in a meeting between ICRC delegates Pascal Mauchle and Tamkina Mauchle and Federal Minister for social welfare and special education Zubaida Jalal here on Tuesday.
ICRC delegates told the minister that October 8 earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters of the modern time as weather and terrain also constraints IRCC and it took some time to establish operations in the affected areas.
But, they informed aid operations were smoothly functioning in the affected areas. They told organization was focusing on the 30,000 affected households of Neelum and Jehlum valleys.
Zubaida Jalal gave an overview of the welfare activities of the ministry particularly the role of Baitul Maal in the wake of this disaster. “ Rs.50 million each has already been distributed to the beneficiary in AJK and NWFP thus providing financial assistance to about 5000 households”, she added.
The ministry is working in close collaboration with the UNICEF and is focusing on the 19 tent villages set up in Muzaffarabad for the displaced families. In addition to this the National Commission for Child Welfare and Development of the ministry has established post-medical child-care centers in Islamabad where more than hundred children were being nursed round the clock.
The Minister showed her concern about the very high number of people who were fear become disabled due to this calamity. The ministry has already sent teams to NWFP and AJK to assess the exact figure.