Pakistan death toll reaches more than 86,000: Minister
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Nov 11, IRNA
Pakistan-Death Toll
Death toll from Pakistan's last month earthquake has reached more than eighty-six thousand (86,000) while the number of injured is estimated at more than one hundred thousand, Health Minister said on Thursday.
Health Minister Nasir Khan told a news conference in Islamabad that the fresh casualty figures have been provided by the official Federal Relief Commission in a report.
The minister distributed the report among the journalists.
When asked that Prime Minster Shaukat Aziz had put death toll at 73 thousand a few days ago, the Health Minister said that the Relief Commission has now provided latest figures.
Khan said the government has taken steps to stop the epidemic of disease in the affected areas especially diarrhea and tetanus.
He added that no new case of diarrhea and tetanus has been reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned yesterday of the spread of diarrhea in the quake-hit Muzaffrabad, the capital of Pakistan- controlled Kashmir due to lack of clear drinking water and poor sanitation system.
The Health Minister admitted several deaths due to disease in the beginning but now the situation is under control.
Khan informed that body parts of 1100 quake injured have been amputated as their injuries to save their lives.
Efforts are underway to arrange artificial lambs for them.
He said that women are the most affected to amputation.
He said the United Nations has urgently arranged tetanus vaccines as it was need.
On the other hand President General Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday he will raise the reconstruction plan at the donors conference on November 19, to be attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and representatives of international finance institutions (IFIs).
In this regard, the President said the newly created Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) will present the assessment of damages to houses and the infrastructure, shortly.
"I would appeal to the people and countries to contribute to Presidential Relief Fund (PRF) or sponsor the construction of any house, school, college or perhaps an entire village," he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has received 211.2 million dollars from abroad for the earthquake affected people while pledges of 2336.4 million dollars from other countries have been made so far for, the country's relief commission said on Thursday.
The Federal Relief Commission said in a statement that death toll has reached 73,294 while 58,896 others were injured including 69,344 seriously.
The commission has asked the NWFP and Kashmir governments to compile detailed lists of all dead and injured by November 30.
2020/235/2327/1420
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