The
Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has figured prominently in special
awards given by the Pakistan government in recognition of the
humanitarian efforts in response to the 8 October 2005 earthquake.
Head of Delegation Azmat Ulla was called up first to accept
the Sitara-i-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice) from Pakistan President
Pervez Musharraf on behalf of the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at a ceremony at President
House in Islamabad last week.
Other Movement partners recognized were the ICRC, the Turkish
Red Crescent Society, the Saudi Red Crescent Society (as part
of the Saudi Relief Mission), Yasib Ali Dogar of the Punjab
branch of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and Altaf M. Saleem,
Chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Punjab branch, who also
received the Sitara-i-Eisaar. Mr Saleem is also now the Chairman
of the Pakistan government Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
Authority (ERRA).
The awards were made to a range of national and international
organizations, and individuals in recognition of their efforts
in helping the people of Pakistan.
President Musharraf, who is also the President of the Pakistan
Red Crescent Society, told the audience of 400 people that his
nation was deeply grateful for the global response to the disaster
which claimed 73,000 lives and displaced 3.5 million people.
“In honouring you, this nation wishes to express its deepest
gratitude for the spirit of sacrifice and compassion, which
you brought to Pakistan in our hour of need,” the President
said.
It has been a truly worldwide response by the International
Federation with 42 National Societies contributing cash, relief
items, equipment and personnel to the operation. Ulla Azmat
said he was proud to accept the award for the “wider Federation”.
“The Federation is a membership organization and the response
from National Societies around the world to the needs of people
affected by the quake has been tremendous,” Ulla said.
“I’m also delighted the efforts of the Pakistan
Red Crescent Society have been recognized with the awards to
Yasib Ali Dogar and Altaf Saleem. The unstinting work of the
host National Society through all levels from volunteers in
the field to national headquarters has helped achieve a highly
effective response so far,” Ulla continued.
For Yasib Ali Dogar, shaking the hand of his country’s
President and receiving the award before hundreds of dignitaries
was recognition for the sacrifice and hard work of Pakistan
Red Crescent volunteers.
With many members of the National Society branch in Pakistan-administered
Kashmir either killed or badly affected by the quake, the Punjab
branch was mobilized to reinforce the response in that area
of the country. Dogar says the response of volunteers was superb
such as a group of doctors who came up from the southern city
of Karachi offering their services.
“Despite the fact they had exams coming up back in Karachi,
they arrived wanting to help. We dropped them into remote areas
of Neelam Valley and then the weather turned bad and they couldn’t
get out. I was making frantic calls to Karachi to explain that
the doctors might be late for their exams!”
He also recounts how a doctor from South Africa, who had been
visiting the Neelam Valley when the earthquake struck, refused
to be evacuated despite the terrible conditions, insisting he
stay to treat casualties as part of the Red Cross Red Crescent
response.
Dogar, whilst proud to receive the Sitara-i-Eisaar for the achievements
of the Movement to date, realizes much is yet to be done.
“I am proud we were able to do our utmost. But that is
not enough. We need to build our capacity and utilize it in
future,” he said.
To date, the Federation response, with the help of Movement
partners, has provided 750,000 people with emergency relief
items and more than 350,000 with medical assistance. But there
is still much to do and the Federation reconstruction and recovery
projects will take until the end of 2008 to complete. There
is a current shortfall in funding of CHF 100 million (US$ 82
million, Euro 64 million) and further support is required if
the work to help the most vulnerable is to be completed.
As President Musharraf stressed, in recognizing the efforts
to date of organizations such as the International Federation,
the job is not yet finished.
“We must have the empathy to appreciate that although
no effort was spared in undertaking this formidable task, nothing
can compensate for the loss and human anguish of the victims.
We need to stay engaged,” he said.
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Pakistan
Head of Delegation Azmat Ullah with the ‘Star of
Sacrifice’ awarded to the International Federation
by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. (p14212)
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Yasib
Ali Dogar received the award in recognition of his work
for the Punjab branch of the Pakistan Red Crescent working
in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. (p14213)
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Head
of the Pakistan Delegation Azmat Ulla is delighted the
unstinting work of the Pakistan Red Crescent through all
levels from volunteers in the field to national headquarters
was recognized in the awards. (p14214)
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