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Pakistani president calls for providing shelters to quake victims

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-01 00:07

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Friday directed that arrangements should be made on emergency basis to provide temporary shelters to the homeless people of earthquake-affected areas before the onset of winter.

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari is seen addressing the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York in this September 25, 2008 file photo. [Agencies]

Chairing a meeting of National Disaster Management Authority ( NDMA) here at the President's House to review the relief and rehabilitation work, Zardari said it was important to provide corrugated sheets and financial assistance to quake victims to build their temporary shelter before they were forced to migrate to other areas because of the severe winter weather.

The NDMA which was overseeing the relief operations in earthquake-hit Balochistan province briefed Zardari about the ongoing work, according to official Associated Press of Pakistan ( APP).

The NDMA said that three medical teams and one field hospital were operational to provide immediate medical cover to around 3, 375 displaced people in Balochistan.

Fifteen helicopters were made available for relief work, while damage assessment was being made through aerial and ground reconnaissance parties.

Related readings:  China red cross donates $50,000 to Pakistan quake victims  Quake kills at least 175 in Pakistan  Quake leaves 200 dead in Pakistan, 15,000 homeless

A total of 8,185 blankets, 4,300 tents, 5,600 warm jackets, 4, 000 plastic mats, 1,000 sleeping bags and 10,000 ration packs with stoves were being distributed among the quake victims, reported APP.

Two major earthquake of magnitude 5.0 and 6.5 on the Richter scale hit Balochistan early Wednesday morning. The death toll of the destructive earthquake has reached 300 by Friday.