02-23-2006, 05:18 AM
Cartoon protests affecting quake relief work
Web posted at: 2/22/2006 5:53:9
Source ::: Internews
PESHAWAR: Protests against blasphemous cartoons are adversely affecting relief and rehabilitation activities in the quake-affected region of Pakistanâs North West Frontier Province, health officials said here yesterday.
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âRepresentatives and workers associated with more than 20 relief and rehabilitation organisations have curtailed their activities, apparently because of the anti-cartoon demonstrations,â an official said.
Some of the organisations had asked their staff to relocate to Islamabad. Most of the organisations working in Balakot, Battagram, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Shangla had already left for Islamabad after temporarily closing down their activities.
A representative of one of the relief agencies said that they had been directed by their headquarters to curtail or close down their activities and run for protection.
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These organisations included UN agencies, International Committee of the Red Cross, Australian Aid International, Swiss Development Corporation, German Action Aid, Oxfam, GTZ, he said.
<b>
Officials said that relief activities had already suffered a setback after medical teams from Iran, China and the United Arab Emirate wrapped up their activities.
</b>
A government official said that the Iranian team had handed over 12 ambulances to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, after wrapping up their work in Hazara division.
Web posted at: 2/22/2006 5:53:9
Source ::: Internews
PESHAWAR: Protests against blasphemous cartoons are adversely affecting relief and rehabilitation activities in the quake-affected region of Pakistanâs North West Frontier Province, health officials said here yesterday.
<b>
âRepresentatives and workers associated with more than 20 relief and rehabilitation organisations have curtailed their activities, apparently because of the anti-cartoon demonstrations,â an official said.
Some of the organisations had asked their staff to relocate to Islamabad. Most of the organisations working in Balakot, Battagram, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Shangla had already left for Islamabad after temporarily closing down their activities.
A representative of one of the relief agencies said that they had been directed by their headquarters to curtail or close down their activities and run for protection.
</b>
These organisations included UN agencies, International Committee of the Red Cross, Australian Aid International, Swiss Development Corporation, German Action Aid, Oxfam, GTZ, he said.
<b>
Officials said that relief activities had already suffered a setback after medical teams from Iran, China and the United Arab Emirate wrapped up their activities.
</b>
A government official said that the Iranian team had handed over 12 ambulances to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, after wrapping up their work in Hazara division.