 |
Search : | ||
|
|||
News
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pakistan
earthquake: Mountain roads are no obstacle for new Red Cross Red Crescent
all-terrain vehicles 16 February 2006 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has begun using a team of experts and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) supplied by the Norwegian Red Cross to distribute much-needed relief supplies to an additional 500 families in remote areas of northern Pakistan. The vehicles include 12 ATVs, two snow scooters and four “belt wagons”, which are designed to travel over rugged and rocky terrain, as well as snow and mud. They are being operated by 18 members of the Norwegian Red Cross Mountain Rescue Corps, who are all volunteers trained in mountain survival and rescue techniques. “This is the first time these specialists have been deployed outside of Norway and it’s a shining example of how skills that are acquired on a local and national level can be transferred and shared on an international level,” said Simon Missiri, Head of the Asia and Pacific Department at the International Federation in Geneva. The aim of the operation is to distribute cooking stoves, corrugated iron sheeting, tools and other supplies to families living in remote villages north of the city of Balakot, where inaccessible roads and extreme weather conditions have made it very difficult to distribute relief goods. “These vehicles can reach areas that are almost impossible to access any other way,” said Erik Arlind, the transport coordinator for the Norwegian initiative. “Even 6x6 all-terrain trucks cannot get through on some of these roads,” he added. In the isolated village of Satbani, in the north of the country, 95 per cent of homes were destroyed and many survivors have been living in tents and makeshift shelters since the earthquake struck on 8 October, 2005. “After the quake hit we lived in a tent for a while before we built a temporary shelter,” said 45-year-old Maroof. “I would like to build another house but I am afraid to use stone, so I am happy to receive iron sheeting and tools.” The distribution of assistance, which includes blankets, hygiene kits and tarpaulins, is an essential part of the Pakistan Red Crescent’s ongoing relief operation for quake survivors. The distribution of relief supplies involving the Norwegian Red Cross Mountain Rescue Corps and the all-terrain vehicles is expected to continue until April. It is hoped that over the next few weeks, the vehicles can also be used to transport medical personnel to remote areas and bring patients to health care facilities if needed. To date, the Red Cross Red Crescent has distributed almost 54,000 tents, more than 374,000 blankets, 108,000 tarpaulins, 209,000 quilts, 51,000 jerry cans, 48,000 family kitchen sets, 47,000 family hygiene kits, and more than 26,000 stoves to those in need. So far, over 87,800 families (more than 615,000 individuals) have received emergency relief since the disaster thanks to the International Federation. More than 2,100 trucks and almost 200 flights have been used to distribute supplies in the areas of Balakot, Batagram, Garhi Habibullah and Mansehra. B-roll footage (7 min. 35 sec.) of the operation will be broadcast on EBU this evening, 16 February, Geneva time. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Stacey M. Winston, Information Delegate, Islamabad Tel: + 92 301 536 3785 Anna Nelson, Information Officer, Geneva Tel: + 41 22 730 4381/Mobile: +41 79 724 2046 Duty phone (Out of Hours) Tel: + 41 79 416 3881 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 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
