Time is one thing quake victims no longer have

[Angry Girl]

Seldom before has the UN felt the need to call with such desperation on the international community to help following a disaster. And seldom has the response been so meager.

One member of staff of UNICEF, the UN children's organization, says she has never seen a catastrophe of this order where money has been in such short supply.

Tuesday marked one month since the devastating earthquake brought misery and suffering to Pakistan, but three quarters of the emergency aid needed is lacking. Soon it will be too late for these supplies -- if they should ever arrive.

Tens of thousands who survived the earthquake are facing a miserable death as a result of the poor international response to their plight. The harsh mountain winter is due to set in within days in the worst affected region, and the predictions are that this winter will be a hard one.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2005/11/10/2003279591

PLEASE consider donating NOW before the survivors suffer a second massive wave of deaths - You may save a life!
The DU Quake Donation thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5251724&mesg_id=5251724

[Hoping4Change]

1. Frankly I am irked that Pakistan refused Indian aid

because of sensitives due to the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. It is mind boggling that given the devastation, Pakistanis refuse help from India and its military who are in the best position to help.

I am more than irked me that Pakistanis went in to states of delirium when they got the bomb which cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The hundreds of millions it takes to maintain its military and create a nuclear arsenal is part and parcel why the area hit by the quake is in such dire need.

[Angry Girl]

2. Things are changing a little - a 2nd border crossing point is open

The opening up of the Chakoti-Uri crossing-point, known as Kamran Post, on the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Pakistan and Indian-administered portions of the Kashmir Valley, a disputed territory over which India and Pakistan have fought two wars, has been widely welcomed.

It's now more than a month since the devastating regional quake that has killed at least 86,000 and injured more than 100,000. Adequate relief has still to reach tens of thousands of vulnerable people and winter snows are threatening to kill those housed in emergency camps.

But people in the valley hope the decision reached a few days ago between Islamabad and New Delhi to open up five points along the LoC can at least reunite divided families. Many have been kept apart for over 50 years due to hostilities between the two South Asian neighbours. They also hope the new crossing points can ease the supply of relief to some of the worst-hit areas in the Neelum and Leepa valleys of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where access by road to many villages is still impossible.

"Our Kashmiri brothers on the Indian-administered side are desperate to help us. We have received many telephone messages offering us support. Now perhaps they can bring the relief goods themselves," said Imdad Hussain, 65, a tailor from the small town of Rawalakot, close to the frontier.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/2e31e5b0bb590eb5b08cd97d3e676201.htm

[Hoping4Change]

3. Pakistan rejected joint relief efforts and they refused India's

offer of helicopters. The lack of the helicopters is exactly the thing that has hampered relief efforts. So the opening of a border point is almost laughable given what was refused.

[Angry Girl]

4. Assh*les. If women were in power, do you think things would be the same?

I know this is a gross generalization but would things have been different had women been in power? I can't help but start to think that males politicians are mentally ill:

I see men get on podiums, proud that their sons have died in a worthless war and egging on their remaining sons. If a woman were to do the same, I think everybody in the audience would think she had a screw loose.

Sorry for the off-topic rant. Must be time for my meds! :-)

[Hoping4Change]

5. I personally don't think it is a gender issue. If anything it is a

warning to everyone what happens after years of hatred. The Pakistanis so hate the Indians they are rejecting their help. They also have rejected aid from Isreal. So if they can't overcome their contempt of their enemies when help is offered why should I overcome my contempt for their attitude? And need I add that their refusal of aid from "unacceptable" donors places greater burdens on donor countries which are, in their estimation, "acceptable".