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Liam Horan, 12th October 2005
Irish aid workers helping to bring life back to normal in earthquake-ravaged
Pakistan have been inundated with offers of help from local people.
“There has been an incredible outpouring from Pakistanis,
many of whom have lost family or friends but still want to help
us in whatever way they can,” said Ray Jordan, a member of
GOAL’s emergency response team which has just arrived in the
capital Islamabad.
Up to 40,000 people are feared dead in Pakistan after last Saturday’s
earthquake wreaked havoc in many parts of the country.
“On the flight out, people were coming up to us to thank
us for travelling to help the relief effort, and also asking what
they could do to assist our work,” added Mr Jordan.
GOAL are travelling north of the capital today) to begin the mammoth
task of rebuilding communities shattered by the earthquake. Over
two million people are thought to be homeless, and food and medical
supplies are badly needed throughout the country.
A Dublin-based chef, whose eight year-old daughter died when the
quake completely flattened a school in Bani Minhasan, yesterday
flew from Ireland to be re-united with the other members of his
heart-broken family.
“I am emotionally distraught. My beautiful eight year-old
daughter Waesam was killed with 75 others in the school, and other
members of my extended family have also been killed,” said
Akhtar Minhas (34), who lives in Carrickmines.
Many Pakistanis are returning home to help out even though they
have lost nobody in the tragedy.
Pakistanis, and sons and daughters of Pakistanis, are answering
the call to home. Mohammed Akram (43), originally from the Punjab
province but living in the north of England, opened his new motor
trade business in Manchester last month, but he literally downed
tools when he saw the scenes of devastation on television.
“I didn’t know anybody who died, but I wanted to be
here at this time in my country. I have UK£3,000 and I will
be hiring a lorry, and buying some medical and food supplies. I
hope to bring this to the Kashmir region, which was badly hit by
the earthquake,” said Mr Akram, just before boarding a direct
flight from Manchester to Islamabad.
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