06-11-2006, 06:05 AM
Quake helicopter service in Pakistan's quake zone grounded
Islamabad, May 31 (Xinhua) Poor funding has led to the closure Wednesday of the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Pakistan, a critical lifeline to thousands of survivors of last year's devastating earthquake in the country's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
Launched just two days after the disaster, the service provided a primary source of relief supplies for many remotely located affected communities.
'It could slow down the reconstruction effort,' Einar Schjolberg, former UNHAS head of mission in the Pakistani capital Islamabad said.
'If the UN cannot get support (such) as tools, material and food up to the remote areas, then people will stay in the IDP (internally displaced persons) camps,' he warned.
Described by many as the largest and most complex humanitarian helicopter operation ever, UNHAS Pakistan brought aid and relief to hundreds of remote villages and hamlets scattered throughout the 28,000 square kilometres quake-affected area.
More than 80,000 people were killed and 3.5 million people rendered homeless in the Oct 8, 2005 earthquake, which ripped through Pakistan's NWFP and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
With a proposed budget of $100 million, UNHAS employed 24 helicopters until recently.
A non-profit UN service provider under the stewardship of the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing it with administrative and logistical support.