Diseases killing Pakistan earthquake survivors

MUZAFFARABAD – A top charity warned yesterday that world pledges to help victims of Pakistan’s huge quake may not save a single life, while doctors said 22 people had already died of tetanus and one of measles.

Donors at an emergency United Nations conference on Wednesday promised an additional US$580 million amid a life-or-death race to deliver help to tens of thousands of injured or homeless people before winter. But British aid agency Oxfam said much of the funding in the pipeline was “too little, too late”, with only three weeks of good weather left to get tents, blankets and food into the devastated region.”It appears that almost half of the money pledged is for longer-term reconstruction work which, although vital, won’t save a single one of the thousands of lives currently hanging in the balance,” it said in a statement.The October 8 quake sent a 7,6-magnitude shockwave through South Asia, killing at least 54 000 people in Pakistan and 1 300 in India, as well as leaving more than three million without roofs over their heads.The United Nations said it was grateful for the pledges but it was still unclear which were meant for its half-billion-dollar “flash appeal” for aid over the next six months, and which were for later rebuilding.- Nampa-AFPBut British aid agency Oxfam said much of the funding in the pipeline was “too little, too late”, with only three weeks of good weather left to get tents, blankets and food into the devastated region.”It appears that almost half of the money pledged is for longer-term reconstruction work which, although vital, won’t save a single one of the thousands of lives currently hanging in the balance,” it said in a statement.The October 8 quake sent a 7,6-magnitude shockwave through South Asia, killing at least 54 000 people in Pakistan and 1 300 in India, as well as leaving more than three million without roofs over their heads.The United Nations said it was grateful for the pledges but it was still unclear which were meant for its half-billion-dollar “flash appeal” for aid over the next six months, and which were for later rebuilding.- Nampa-AFP