Scream

Umair:

…this in itself is a scream…albeit full of anguish and pathos…and screams have a short shelf life

…i fully agree with what you say…we in the diaspora should shove this in the face of our friends, acquaintances and politicians…am not sure of the four week window…but that is a minor quibble…

…however

…if we were to learn from past history…what we euphemistically refer to as ‘the world’ will largely forget this ‘quake in a very short time like it has forgotten equal or greater tragedies in its past...

…and again if history be the teacher…the locals can with grit and determination overcome this adversity...

…it is a long haul process…and our efforts and those of others with goodwill should be directed towards the long haul…and from within our (very limited) resources…

rgds

t

100,000 dead ?

Where did that figure come from?

I thought the # of dead was less than 20,000

Re: # 1
I`ve wondered, too, why the fairly muted response to such an awful, horrendous tragedy. Perhaps I`ve wanted to hear screams, perhaps in fact the response has been more vigorous than it seems. I didn`t know what to do. I wrote a poem, maybe Chowk will publish it. But then, and more practically, I clicked on the little blue rectangle at the top of this page and sent some money. Of course there`s always a risk that the money won`t get to the people who need it most, but it`s a risk worth taking. mirmir

Absolutely, and in addition, we should’ve humbly accepted India’s offer of sending it’s men over the line of control, we need to reach out to those busy blowing up innocent Iraqi shias to come to save a few of their Ummis. While we are screaming, may be we can also have a little whisper (as opposed to a long scream) in memory of 8 Ahmadis recently gunned down inside their mosque.

Send your precious contribution to American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers. Thanks.

The pain and anguish are real – not a shred of doubt about it – a scream would be fully understandable!

The sad reality of life is that those who suffer most directly from tragedies of such a magnitude are the ones who end up doing most of the rebuilding – all by themselves – the choice is either to do that or to perish!

And ANY tragedy – whatever its magnitude, will lose its resonating effect over time – starting with far-away places, then closer home.

Every life is precious – so every death is to be mourned – yet not all of us have the same length of lease on life – some of those leases terminate abruptly as the Landlord recalls what belongs to Him – and only to Him!

And therefore, life must go on! Because – as they say it – the alternative is worse!

So screaming itself does not help – action does – and that’s where the focus needs to remain.

Sincerely,
BeeJay.

The figures given in an article appearing in today’s New York Times are 53,000 killed, 75,000 injured. I suspect that these are conservative figures, and most likely both the death toll and the number of injured will rise - tragically the dying continues. I’ve posted a few paragraphs from the article, but the complete story can be found here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/international/asia/23quake.html

“Quake`s Aftermath: Second Wave of Death
By SOMINI SENGUPTA and DAVID ROHDE
Published: October 23, 2005 in The New York Times

PARAS, Pakistan, Oct. 21 - A full two weeks after the earthquake upended everything, the tide of horror here remains largely unchanged. That is perhaps the most frightening thing of all.

In this smashed-up village in the Kaghan Valley, now reachable only by helicopter, the able-bodied still wait for tents. The wounded continue to pour down from the hills. The Pakistani Army continues to airlift them to hospitals across the country. And though their numbers are lower than they were a week ago, their conditions in some cases are graver.

For two weeks, wounds have festered. Relatively mild injuries have worsened, infections have set in and, in the worst cases, so have gangrene and tetanus. In some cases, doctors say, limbs that would not have required amputation had they received immediate care will now have to go.

If a toll of more than 53,000 killed and 75,000 injured were not enough, doctors and relief workers say now the second wave of deaths has begun. The biggest hazards at the moment ``are untreated wounds,`` said Krist Teirlinck, the head of the Belgian mission of the medical relief group Doctors Without Borders.”

Below is a disturbing paragraph from an article, also from the New York Times, that you can find in its entirety here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/national/23donate.html

“Of greater consternation to relief officials is the tepid response of government donors to the crisis. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, known as OCHA, has received gifts and pledges totaling $91 million for earthquake relief, or 29 percent of the $312 million it has requested.”

Kulharee #4: ``Absolutely, and in addition, we should’ve humbly accepted India’s offer of sending it’s men over the line of control,``

One should not use such occassions to push political points.........

Could you kindly explain why Pakistan needs Indian soliders across the LOC? Have you ever seen the LOC? Have you been to Kashmir? Pakistan has plenty of its own troops deployed in the area. In fact, the problem, at the moment, is that there are too many people there.........There are Pakistani soldiers sitting on Pakistan`s side of the LOC. Why introduce Indian soldiers? That`s like saying Manmohan Singh should come in and replace Shaukut Aziz........

There are 450,000 Pakistani troops waiting to be deployed. The area can only accomodate around 50k, who are there are the moment.........Do explain what good Indian soldiers will do, other than make a political statement? Do they know the area better than Pakistanis? Can they climb the hills faster? Are they more sincere? Can they speak the language better?

What would help are supplies and money from India. But Indian soldiers? So could one request you to kindly refrain from scoring political points at the expense of a tragedy like this.......Including your comments about Iraqi Shias.........What do Iraqi Shias have to do with this earthquake............

Re: # 7

Romair, No, I have never been to the LOC, and have no desire to go there either. Here the writer is arguing about why NATO didn’t come to the rescue, but you don’t want Indians to come in? Is there something missing? You want NATO but no Indians?

Romair, have you ever been to NATO?

This is my latest despatch from the qake zone. I am depressed. My wife who travelled with me this time has not been able to sleep.

---

It is 0200 Hours 24th October 2005. I am just back from Balakot, the city of dead abandoned even before a concerted effort was made to rescue those that deserved it. The only activity seemed to be the hustle bustle of numerous national and international relief organizations looking for people they could feed. Tears have since dried and people move around silently with not a word to speak. They are broken down to every sinew and their wailings have since long given way to an eerie silence and resignation. As I stood photographing the cracked highway memorial, a small group from the mountains descended into the town. When they turned the last bend and took full view of Balakot, the awe and despair on their faces was noticeable. The man I met had walked for three days to reach Balakot to seek help for his family. He was shaken to see a city destroyed beyond recognition and collapsed with his head in his hands. I wanted to give him water but he refused saying that he was fasting. The brave but broken man had been walking for the past 13 hours with a very strong faith, only to see his hopes shattered. As Azan in the far distance sounded Iftar, I pretended to share those holy moments with him thinking, that if indeed this was the wrath of God then why on such simple people with such strong faith? As the sun set behind the hills a little child of three walked up to me in this ghost town. Uncle please search my shoes for me, he said as I looked down at his tiny feet stepping on the rubble. To him, he had lost his dearest possession.

This is my second visit to the area. The last time I visited was punctuated with hope for survivors from the rubble, and I saw people anxiously poking around and listening for signs of life amidst a stench of death. The piles of rubble looked the same except where they are cleared to make way for vehicles. All those who survived the initial jolt and kept imploring for help are since dead. There are no visible signs that an effort was ever made to rescue them. The might of disaster and weight and size of concrete slabs was well beyond the limited earth moving plant available in the area. The stench has given way to the strong odor of formalin, a disinfectant sprayed in the area. The line of slipped mountains passes right through this road bend sweeping with it some of the most beautiful roadside tourist restaurants on way to Kaghan, a spot I had frequented in the past to photograph Balakot down below on both sides of the meandering river. The sheer force of the quake has broken the road at every yard and raised or lowered portions creating bumps reminiscent of the people who once inhabited this area. Close by, there is a multi story school building collapsed like an accordion with one roof on another. Volunteers of ZINDAGHI TRUST told me that not a single child amongst the odd 500 inside was saved.

ZINDAGHI like many other relief organizations is doing a remarkable job in the area. Seeing a sign of the Cross on their camp, I stopped to meet the volunteers. Most turned out to be Christian Boy Scouts from Karachi who had just returned after ferrying loads to distant mountain houses on their backs. They were in very high spirits led by a serving army officer on leave. I kept wondering how motivation had worked wonders for these sea level people to climb mountains with heavy loads. Likewise many industrial houses like Dewan Salman, Dewan Mushtaq and Pepsi Faisalabad have set up their own relief camps. Most remarkable is the military hospital set up by UAE. Close by there is a relief camp and hospital operated by the Chinese as well as a Women hospital run by Catholic Nuns of Pakistan.

Signs of order are now more visible. I failed to discern if it were more due to the organizational ability of the army or resignation on part of the local communities. But one thing is for sure. Help never reached them in time. Now there are too few seeking it.

Silence

---

Romair , Kulharee

Kulharee has a valid point about the Indian aid and Musharraf screwing up this issue as well. He visibly gets confused on such common sense issues and puts on his fauji goggles.

First, we dithered for two days about the Indian aid and talked about some `sensitivity`.

Then we accepted the aid.

Then Helicopters issue came - and we said without pilots. Wasn`t this a stupid condition to embarrass the Indians to say `No`.

As Sardar Qayyum of Azad Kashmir said, what secrets would those pilots notice - `destroyed towns & homes`.

And why did Army waste 72 hours and just sent in two Divisions.

And now that a considerable amount of aid has come, we continue to create a hype for more aid. Frankly, I feel ashamed. Why all those F-16s and other useless expenditure and not using the money for these people.

Pakistan should accept all aid that pours in voluntarily but not BEG for it. We can, especially the society, can do it through our own resources. These people lived a simple minimalist life of 1 or 2 rooms.

nhk

Hi Umair,

You have pretty much captured our collective sentiments here in the U.S.A.

But in spite of the lack of attention due to what I call ``Disaster Fatigue`` it seems

to me that our community is putting its best foot forward and is doing what it can.

The Indian community response thus far has been lukewarm here.

When the earthquake struck Gujarat a few years ago, many of us Pakistani-Americans

pitched in to help.


Ras

Nazar #10: One should not use these tragedies to push one`s political points. ........that is what I was trying to highlight. Kulharee has some pent-up political points he wants to make, and is using this tragedy to make them........To me that is sad.....He should make them outside this tragedy........

- There is no advantage of allowing Indian soldiers across the LOC. They were not needed. If there is one thing Pakistan has enough of, it is troops. India offered them, to score political points. Knowing fully well that Pakistan did not need them, nor had it asked for them. Pakistan would, thus, refuse and India would look good. Do keep in mind that India has Pakistani soldiers unnecessary deployed at Siachen. Perhaps Pakistan should have asked for Indian soldiers from Siachen. Would India have agreed? I doubt it......There was, infact, no need to India to create all this hoopla about sending soldiers across.......

What is needed is open access to all Kashmiris, across the LOC, so they can help each other`s relatives. Some famlies live half on one side and half on the other. This is something India has refused to agree to. Its defence minister stating that one earthquake cannot change 50 years of history. It will only allow a few checkpoints with official documents......

So one needs to keep everything straight on that part........What is the point of such political point scoring, from the Indian side.......Pakistan is already under so much pressure.......

- The only thing India could have helped Pakistan with is aid and helicopters. Pakistan should have accepted helicopters with Indian pilots. However, India should have sent them without pilots, if that is what Pakistan wanted.......Both played it incorrectly, there........

As for aid, Indian aid hasn`t been much. Hardly anything. A small fraction of what much smaller countries have sent. It was accepted and India was thanked. It is not going to be the make or break part of this tragedy.........It has gotten far more media attention than it deserved............There are neighborhoods in Pakistan that have raised more aid, than everything India sent..........Yet it is all over the media in India...........

It is in situations like this where one finds out who cares. And all the caring has come from the West of Pakistan, not the East..........

- The Army did not waste 72 hours to send two divisions. It spent that long to organize the divisions, and soldiers that were there. It did the best it could. Even the biggest critics of the Army are agreeing that it did and is doing all that it can. Far more than most other organizations. I suppose everyone can do more. But so can you and I.......Armies are not trained in disaster recovery. Yet it is the only organized group operting there. Its helicopter pilots are flying 12 hours a day.............

- As for begging for aid, it should be done. There is nothing wrong with asking for aid. No country, other than perhaps USA, could handle something like this, without asking for aid. Pakistan will need more aid, and should keep asking for it. It should ask for massive loan write-offs also.

At the same time, if ever another country needs aid in, God forbid, a similar situation, Pakistan should be on the forefront, helping them, based on the lessons learnt, from this earthquake.....One give aid and asks for aid in such situations..........Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia have helped a great deal. As has the USA..........

As for F-16s etc. I agree. Not only F-16s, but, all defence purchases should be stopped. The whole military budget needs to be cut down completely, and spent on social services. Pakistan yesterday, did raise the education budget from 2.7 to 4%. But a lot more needs to be done.

Similar steps need to be taken in other areas. You should mention those, as well. All govt. departments, including PIA etc. need to be downsized, and privatized.........But definitely the defence also...........However, I don`t think this will happen..........

Kulharee #8: ``Romair, No, I have never been to the LOC, and have no desire to go there either...Here the writer is arguing about why NATO didn’t come to the rescue, but you don’t want Indians to come in? Is there something missing? You want NATO but no Indians? .......Romair, have you ever been to NATO? ``

If you have not seen the LOC or the surrounding areas, then how do you know if Indian soldiers coming across the LOC would help. They wouldn`t, as far as I can tell. It was a political move by India, to put Pakistan down. What could Indian soldiers do that Pakistani soldiers could not do? Do tell me..........It`s like Manmohan Singh stating I offer myself in place of Shaukut Aziz.........

India, perhaps, need to make up its mind in Kashmir. Does it want its soldiers to occupy Kashmir or to help Kashmiris. It cannot pull off both..........So you cannot compare NATO with India. NATO has not occupied any part of Kashmir, nor has it killed tens of thousands of Kashmiris.......India is now offering to cross the LOC to help the same Kashmiris, who have been shelled and bombed and killed by Indian soldiers for decades. At the same time it will not open up the LOC, to let their civilian relatives cross over from the Indian side, openly.........

Don`t you see anything wrong with this..........

I have been to NATO countries. If that is what you mean. And Pakistan has asked NATO to help. It has also asked India to help and all countries. Help in areas where Pakistan needs help. Not in areas where Pakistan does not need it, i.e. normal troops in Kashmir....NATO to the best of my knowledge, has never threatened Pakistan, nor does it have Pakistani soldiers locked up in Siachen or on the border. If India is genuinely concerned, it should, simply vacate Siachen. That would probably help Pakistan. It is keeping Pakistani high-altitude soldiers locked up on one front, and offering soldiers across the LOC. NATO is not doing that................

Anyways, I think in this whole affair, dealing with India, through unnecessary issues, has taken up far too much time from the Pakistan side. Both in the foreign office and govt. The govt. should be busy in far more important things than worrying about counter-statements to and from India.............

Oye Romair,

Take the Indian offer or leave it dude....we are not begging you to accept it.

Beautifully written. Very powerful and not that late.

Umair, well articulated, and spot on.

But one simple question - in any perception building exercise, you first need to provide access to credible front-ends, right?

This means the media, international and domestic, favourable as well as critical.

The population of the affected areas have been screaming at bigger injustices than an earthquake for the past few decades now. At that juncture their screams have been stifled. Did you, we bombard the media then?

Have you any idea how women in these areas may have been screaming even before the earthquake? That`s half the population, not just a million or so.

What were you, we, doing then?