SYDNEY /Feb. 2--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/infoQuest As winter approaches, there are growing fears for earthquake victims trying to rebuild their lives, said Pakistan Press Foundation Secretary-General, Mr Owais Aslam Ali. Addressing a Forum of Asia Pacific news agencies in Sydney, Australia, Mr Ali said without continuing help from world organisations, many people in outlying areas would not survive. “There are just not enough tents in the world to help the homeless millions. Of the 500,000 already supplied, not all are waterproof.With rain and snow coming, the situation is grim,” Mr Ali said. While highlighting the physical plight of thousands, Mr Ali referred to a Red Cross statement which said that proper communication was as important as food, clothing and shelter. He said a major difficulty after the earthquake of October 8 last year was establishing the extent of the damage and where immediate help was needed. “Some areas did not even have a mobile phone, a forbidden form of communication.” Mr Ali said the earthquake demonstrated, yet again, that the country was ill served, especially in times of crisis, by the long-standing state policy of not fully opening the electronic media and telecommunication services. “When massive landslides blocked roads and destroyed landline telephone and telegraph systems, the country suddenly found itself without any means of communicating with millions of people devastated by the calamity.” Access to information did not exist. It took days in some cases for the extent of the tragedy to unfold. Journalists in the affected areas, themselves suffering personal property loss, bereavement and trauma, were still without the basic facilities such as fax and telephones. But Mr Ali said “a wonderful opportunity exists.” Among this saddness and destruction, there was now a chance for transparency in communication and to begin the process of equipping and training journalists in all forms of media. Without proper scrutiny, accountability for the $US6 billion in aid would come into question, sensitive quake areas would be subject to more militarism and outlying areas would remain isolated and continue to depend on rumour. “NATO, militants and the Pakistan Army are working side by side with the Red Cross and countries such as Norway, Australia, Iran, Turkey,Italy and England in a continuing relief effort — even in El Quaeda territory.Who would have thought it possible, Mr Ali said. “The areas affected by the earthquake are among the most sensitive and politically volatile regions in the world and include the Pakistani and Indian administered Kashmir and areas bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. “The earthquake offers challenges to the international community as well to governments in the region to develop policies and programmes that reduce the need for resorting to militancy.Rehabilitation and reconstruction activities should be planned and implemented swiftly, transparently and with full participation of the local population. “People need to be kept informed of developments through the area media, to discourage public misconceptions that can create hurdles in the relief and reconstruction activities. “Effective and functioning regional media also offers an opportunity for international organisations to win the trust of the surrounding communities. “Sensitivities of the local population, voiced throughh reports by area journalists, can serve as advance warning of problems ahead that can be addressed properly, Mr Ali added. ~ The AsiaNet Consortium of news agencies (www.asianetnews.net) has agreed to support a regional press office in need through the Pakistan Press Foundation. SOURCE: AsiaNet Consortium, C/- Australian Associated Press, 3 Rider Boulevard, Rhodes, New South Wales, 2138. CONTACT: Michael Worner AsiaNet General Manager 61-2-9322-8667 Email: asian[email protected] Owais Aslam Ali Pakistan Press Foundsation Secretary-General 92-21-263-3215 Email: ppf@pakistanpressfoundation.org --Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--