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Red
Cross Red Crescent teams race to reach isolated communities in northern
Pakistan 1 November 2005 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has started airlifting special relief teams by helicopter to isolated villages in the North West Frontier Province in Pakistan. The operation is intended to last up to one month and will urgently provide basic necessities to vulnerable and remote communities affected by the devastating 8 October earthquake. It is carried out in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) and the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS). The International Federation is conducting the relief effort on the ground while the UN provides logistical support. “This is an innovative way for the Red Cross Red Crescent teams to work in cooperation with UN agencies and the IOM to rapidly assess needs and distribute basic necessities in the affected areas which desperately need assistance before it is too late,” said John English, the Federation’s relief coordinator in Islamabad. Altogether, four groups - three Red Cross Red Crescent teams made up of members from the Pakistan Red Crescent and from South East Asia Regional Disaster Response Teams and one team from the IOM - will be transported by UN helicopters to villages inaccessible by road to carry out rapid aid distribution and assessment missions before these areas are cut off by winter weather later this month. Two Red Cross Red Crescent teams are already on the ground in the remote villages of Kahari and Sholgran, in the Kaghan Valley, which remain cut off due to landslides. After landing, the teams immediately proceeded to do house-to-house assessments in the devastated areas to identify urgent needs. As a result, tarpaulins, blankets and tool kits as well as community tents will be flown in by helicopter today and distributed to some 300 families. The teams are self-sufficient for food and accommodation and will stay up to two days at a time to gather information and provide necessary aid. The teams stay in regular satellite phone contact with their base to ensure their security and coordinate the delivery of vitally-needed supplies. Each team has female and male volunteers to ensure adequate communication with all vulnerable groups. This new operation complements the ongoing relief distributions and health services already being delivered to earthquake survivors by the Red Cross Red Crescent in Pakistan. To date, more than 400 truckloads of relief goods, medical supplies and emergency response equipment have reached affected areas. Some 9,000 tents and 60,000 blankets have been distributed in villages around Balakot, Garhi Habibulla and Batagram. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Solveig Olafsdottir, Information Delegate, Islamabad, Tel: + 92 300 555 4525 Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer, Geneva Tel: + 41 79 217 33 45 / + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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