WFP seeks $90m urgent aid for quake survivors
From Our Correspondent

MUZAFFARABAD—The UN World Food Program (WFP) is appealing for more than $90 million in urgent assistance for millions of people in earthquake affected north-eastern Pakistan.
The WFP says the funds are desperately needed to maintain air lifts of food through the harsh Himalayan winter. Many relief workers are convinced that without a constant supply of food and warm clothes to thousands of homeless people in the remote mountainous region, the sub-zero temperatures could result in a second cycle of deaths.
WFP executive director James Morris has now added his voice to the earlier appeals for more emergency funds. “We need help, we need some additional food help,” he said. “We need money for helicopters, this is a big logistic transport challenge.”
With the harsh chilly winter sets in, the United Nations emergency office laid out December’s priorities for bringing relief to the Oct 8 quake survivors, including continued assistance for up to 380,000 people who choose to remain in their homes in remote locations.
Sufficient camp accommodations must also be provided for 250,000 others who move to lower elevations as the snows starts in. “The implications have become obvious: more population movements are anticipated, more challenges will be faced for the delivery of assistance and more needs for the affected population will emerge, especially among the most vulnerable groups,” the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.
Since the quake struck on Oct 8, much has been achieved by the various aid providers, including UN agencies, national and international bodies and non-governmental organizations. Some 410,000 tents and 3.1 million blankets have been distributed, 300,000 children have been vaccinated, almost 90 per cent of water needs are now being covered in planned camps, and more than 2,000 ‘School in a Box’ kits are being handed out.
Much, however, remains to be done to consolidate and sustain these gains especially as winter further become coldest.
Meanwhile, Muslim Hand International (MHI), an NGO on Sunday distributed relief goods among the quake survivors. The relief goods consisted of blankets, warm cloths, quilts, food items etc. Led by Group Captain Sultan Mehmood Hali (Retd), Editor, Independent News Pakistan (INP) relief goods were distributed among the quake victims in Dotahan, Manjari, Hussain Kot, Hari, Bahi Baigh and in other quake affected places. Coordinator MHI, Shafiq Ahmad, Iftihar Inqilabi, Ijaz Rafiq medical in charge, Aziz Rizvi media in charge, Abdul Qayum a volunteer and other people also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion S M Hali said that October 8 quake was the worst disaster in the history of the country. He said that whole nation helped the Kashmiri brethrens and they were not alone in this tragedy. He appreciated the efforts taken by the government, Pak forces, international community, MHI and other NGOs who contributed valuable services for quake victims. He also appreciated the role of volunteers individually and collectively in relief activities for quake victims.