October 23-26 Update News from Pakistan

Since I am working for the NGO movements/civil society organizations for the last 8 years now, and my boss says that I am natural networker... so a lot of people know me and I know them... so I have been forwarding their contribution of information also, which is first hand and mostly direct from the scene. Though my telephone bill is really hiking up...but don't worry I will manage somehow ;)

For the cause of PEACE and HUMANITY!
Shahzad Ahmad
Pakistan
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Women call for end to bombing on civilians
October 25

KARACHI, Oct 23: A peaceful demonstration, organized by various NGOs working for the betterment of women, on Tuesday, called for an immediate end to the US-led bombing on Afghanistan.

The women, who staged the demonstration at the Press Club, were raising slogans for acceptance of their demands, urging the United States and its allies to stop attacks on Afghan cities due to which, they said,
innocent civilians, including women and children, were being killed.

They condemned the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and termed it wicked and evil acts of sick minds.

The protesters said that it was imperative for all the nations to use their competent minds and superior technologies to unearth the criminals and eliminate them along with their networks. But the bombardment of the helpless civilians of a country, already traumatized by hunger and war, defied human compassion and all norms of justice and fair play, they maintained.

Another terrible human tragedy was being witnessed in which, they said, women and children were trapped in crossfire, forced to seek shelter in remote areas with winter aggravating their plight.

They said that killing of 6,000 innocent civilians in the US could not justify the annihilation of the Afghans. They said that the persistent aerial strikes on Afghanistan would swell an influx of refugees into the surrounding countries destabilising the entire region.

The participants called for a political solution through mediations and negotiations within Afghanistan to bring about a viable peace.

The protesters raised slogans which included: "To eliminate terrorism, make peace not war"; "UN resolve all outstanding conflicts, give justice to oppressed peoples"; "US coalition stop the shameful bombardment of helpless civilians in Afghanistan"; "No issue has ever been solved by waging war"; "We are against terrorism, the world must stop killing women and children in the name of justice and peace."

The demonstration concluded with a prayer, led by Shaista Zaidi, Nargis Rehman, Rehana Afroze, calling for an end to terrorism, end to the bombing on Afghanistan, prevalence of peace and harmony in the world,
and integrity and solidarity of Pakistan.

The demonstration was jointly organized by Karachi Peace Women's Committee, Bazm-i-Aamna, and Working Women Welfare Trust, while the representatives of various other NGOs including Lyari Women's Skill Development, Lawyers for Human Rights, Mufaad-i- Aamma, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Saarc Women Association, Shehri, CEDF, Pawla, Falah Association, SEWA, Ladies Forum, Helpline, HANDS, Tehrik-i-Niswan, EAWS, Samaj Sudhar Tehrik, Patients Welfare Association, etc also participated.

Best wishes and regards.
Shahzad Ahmad
Pakistan
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Anti-War demos
October 24

Oct 24 20000 Karachi, Pakistan (ppl had gathered for funerals of
those pakistanis martyred in Afghanistan due to bombing)
Oct 24 4000 Peshawar, Pakistan

Best wishes and regards.
Shahzad Ahmad
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Afghans short of medical supplies
October 25

As the war is peaking in Afghanistan, there are more and more civilian killings include kids, women and elderly people. But most unfortunate part of this is that there is massive shortage of medical supplies in
the local available so called hospitals, since most of the better hospital facilities have been totally destroyed during the air strikes by US in the name of eliminating terrorists. Taliban Govt. is trying every effort to get these supplies for the patients...

Edhi Welfare Centre, an internationally known welfare organization based in Karachi having centres all over Pakistan even in remotest areas, has been receiving faxes and messages from the aid workers and volunteers working there to make possible the medical supplies at the earliest... As even cotton bandage is not available for the wounded... And most deaths are occurred due to loss of blood and unavailability of bandages etc. The urgent requirements are:

Bandage 2400 (different sizes)
Urine Bags 3000
Blood Bags 3000
First Aid Boxes 100
Different medicine tubes used for healing purposes 2000
Wound stitching needles and threads
Life saving drugs

Shahzad Ahmad
Pakistan
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Refugees Crisis-Pakistan
October 25

UNHCR foresees acute crisis
The Dawn, 25/10/2001
QUETTA, Oct 24: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan fears an influx of 1.5 million Afghan refugees "if situation deteriorates in Afghanistan", Fatoumata Kaba, the UNHCR spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

Fatoumata held a detailed discussion with her colleague in Islamabad and visiting Chaman where she he had gone to hand over 60 tents at Killi Haji Faizu along Chaman border.

The UNHCR is at present making arrangements, both in NWFP and Balochistan, to accommodate 300,000 refugees and needs 50 million dollars urgently. "We are approaching all donors to release the promised
amount," she told newsmen.

Pakistan government has provided seven hectors land to the UNHCR Chaman where 600 tents can be pitched to accommodate a total of 3,600 Afghan refugees. She said an emergency relief centre with provision of health facilities is being set up at the same place. The Centre has received 50,000 doses of measles vaccines.

The UNHCR has drawn three strategies to meet the future needs. The first is arrival of 300,000 refugees for which the Commissioner office in Pakistan is going ahead with setting up arrangements. The officials expect that after these arrangements are finalized, the government may open borders and allow refugees to come in. They expect that if situation prolongs one million refugees may add deteriorating the situation. The Afghanistan fighting may force 1.5 million to leave their homes and seek shelter in Pakistan.
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ICRC warehouses destroyed in US raid
October 26

KABUL: US bombs destroyed two Red Cross warehouses in the Afghan capital Friday, wiping out vital stocks of food and cooking oil intended for widows and disabled people, Red Cross officials told a newsmen today.

On the other hand, two minor girls were killed when US planes attacked a village in the outskirts of Kabul. Their houses were also destroyed...

Shahzad Ahmad
Pakistan

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Peace, No War!
War is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate

Please visit our global antiwar information, resource site:
http://www.Peace.NoWar.net
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