UN special envoy arrives in Islamabad

The UN Special Envoy for the South Asia Earthquake, former President of the United States George Bush Senior, arrived in Pakistan on Monday. “He has arrived today. If the weather permits he will travel to the earthquake-affected areas to meet survivors and get a first-hand look at the needs and the situation on the ground,” Ben Malor, a spokesman for the UN's quake relief operation, confirmed in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. During his two-day visit, Bush is scheduled to hold talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, along with senior officials of his government. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed former US president George Bush senior as Special Envoy for the South Asian Earthquake Disaster in December to spearhead the world body's efforts to sustain international support for humanitarian assistance to quake victims, as well as medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction. More than 80,000 people were killed and over 100,000 injured after a powerful earthquake of 7.6 magnitude ripped through parts of Pakistani-administered Kashmir and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on 8 October, rendering over 3.5 million homeless just weeks before the start of winter. Three months on, according to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Jan Vandemoortele, almost 2 million quake survivors were still living in tents below the snowline, about 250,000 in organised camps, while another 400,000 were living in temporary shelters constructed at higher altitude. "I look forward to serving in the capacity of UN Special Envoy, for I, like so many others around the globe, have been deeply affected by the suffering of the victims of this awful earthquake. This is a disaster of enormous proportions and the recovery is going to be a long and difficult task," Bush said at his appointment in mid-December. The former US president embarks on the Pakistan visit at a time when heavy snows and rains have grounded helicopters impeding relief efforts. Meanwhile, the international charity Oxfam released on Monday a report marking 100 days of what has become Pakistan's worst natural disaster in its 58-year history, warning of another humanitarian disaster to come. “It’s 100 days since the earthquake struck and we’re still in full lifesaving mode as this crisis shows no sign of abating,” Farhana Faruqi Stocker, Oxfam’s country director, said in Islamabad. There have already been reports of cold-related diseases on the rise as temperatures fall, while several deaths have been reported from across the quake-hit region. Additionally, the struggle to stay warm – especially in crowded spontaneous camps –has posed its own hazards, with reports of several fatalities and injuries from tent fires that blazed out of control, said an Oxfam press statement marking the report's release.