Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - The almost total destruction of homes in the parts of Pakistan affected by the earthquake last month, continues to render the situation critical for four million homeless people which will worsen when Winter comes and the first snow begins to fall.
The Italian Raoul Follereau Association (AIFO) is present in the country with programmes for assistance and healthcare in different parts of the devastated areas. Five of its Centres for Rehabilitation were completely destroyed and many of the workers are reported dead or missing.
Assistance was swiftly activated by the head of AIFO projects in Pakistan. The director of the Peshawar Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with a Disability RCPD, set out with a logistics expert and physiotherapist to offer emergency aid. The team distributed food, baby food, clean water, blankets, tents, clothing and medicine.
AIFO is preparing a programme for targeted aid and as immediate action is sending a container with blankets, tends and wheel chairs. The container will arrive in Peshawar and the contents will be distributed by truck to the affected areas of Kashmir and North West Frontier Province. It will also arrange to transport the more seriously injured to the Peshawar Centre for treatment and rehabilitation. Fore more information see www.aifo.it. (AP) (4/11/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:23; Parole:261)
