EDITORIAL: Generation in Perils!
By the Editor

WHILE, disseminating an up-date on the plight of Oct-8 Quake ravaged areas of northern Pakistan as well as the magnitude of fatalities in Azad Kashmir, the Federal Relief Commissioner, Maj Gen Farooq Ahmed has said that death toll in October-8 earthquake has risen over 50,000—with a hefty access to still more shattered areas.

At a Press briefing, he feared that the casualty figure may rise further in the days—to come. Pragmatically, the Federal and Provincial Governments along with Armed Forces are doing their best to reach all the affected areas in AJK and NWFP.

Amid such a scenario, Pakistan is faced with a real grim state of affairs due to mounting death toll, hazards of harsh cold weather and paucity of tents, blankets and life-saving drugs.

At the same time, the UN Children Fund has warned that tens of thousands of children are—faced with perils in the remote earthquake stricken areas due to worsening weather, injury and illness. Thus, there is a danger that 10,000 of them may perish within the next few weeks unless helicopters and vital Medicare needs are supplied at-once.

‘The relief effort is becoming more and more complex with each passing day’, its Executive Director Anne Veneman has said. The situation, therefore, calls for a massive international response for expeditious delivery of relief supplies to the affected areas to save the survivors from the emerging hazards.

President Musharraf has—simultaneously—renewed his appeal to the world community and overseas Pakistanis to urgently provide tents, blankets, medicines and other relief supplies to alleviate the sufferings of the affected people.

True that the Pakistani nation and world community have risen to the occasion with a sense of urgency—but the situation is too grave to lower the guards.

The task of relief and rehabilitation is far greater than Pakistan’s resources and capacity—which calls for quick response from the world community and international relief agencies to respond and react urgently. We have to race against time to save—millions of survivors—especially the children from imminent threats to their lives.

Azad Kashmir and Hazara Division have already lost a generation in the killer earthquake and the survivors need to be provided immediate relief and shelter—of-course with optimal security. It’s hoped that the relief efforts will be further stepped up to address the miseries of the affected people.

Understandably, the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction will take years, but a sound relief effort is bound to facilitate the task of permanent settlement of the survivors of the slayer earthquake.

While expressing our inmost gratitude to the comity of nations—with China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UK and the United States [USA]—on the top of the list for extending instant and swift help to mitigate the agony of the Quake-stricken areas, we feel optimistic that all those—at home and around the world—who have pledged assistance—in the shape of cash and kind—would put into practice their commitments sans any delay.

Such a course shall not only save human lives in millions—as the winter has already engulfed the northern vicinities of Pakistan— hich have been harshly hit by the tremors—followed by over 750 aftershocks—but historians would index such nations, as bona fide civilized realms with love for humanity—by all perceptions.

We hope, that—snags and delays shall be eschewed with utmost sincerity—by ensuring that the promised aid comes to the Quake-hit areas of Pakistan and  Azad Kashmir— instantaneously—if not for any-thing else, at least to save yet another generation in this part of the world—from all types of risks and hazards.● 

 -  Mumtaz Hamid Rao
www.MumtazRao.net