Earthquake: Search for survivors calls off
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-10-15 09:04

The country's relief commissioner, Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmad Khan, said Pakistan expected to get 2 million blankets and 100,000 large tents before the onset of winter. He said 200,000 houses had been destroyed.

UNICEF said the international relief effort must focus on helping children at risk of death from cold, malnutrition and disease. The U.N. agency said it was sending high protein bars, boots and sweaters for children, blankets, water containers, plastic tarpaulins, tents, medical supplies and blankets.

Pakistani military helicopters and choppers from other countries flew in and out of a sports stadium in Muzaffarabad, where a temporary hospital had been set up. The choppers ferried aid workers to isolated villages, including those in the Neelum and Jehlum valleys, and brought back hundreds of injured people.

Pakistan's information minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, said helicopters from other nations had helped save 6,000 injured people by ferrying them to hospitals. On Friday, 45 helicopters flew a total of 80 sorties, he said.

The U.S. military has deployed 13 helicopters to Pakistan, and has begun dropping relief supplies by air from C-130s. It also prepared to send a 36-bed Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or MASH, from Germany, and a water purification crew.

U.S. aircraft and troops will assist as long as they are wanted, the commander of the U.S. military's disaster assistance center said.

"My view is that we will be here as long as Pakistan wants us, to demonstrate our friendship," U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael Lefever said.

Dozens of countries have donated money and aid.

Millions of Muslims thronged mosques across Pakistan on Friday, the Muslim sabbath, to offer prayers for those who died in the earthquake. Some clerics said the quake was a sign that God was unhappy with his people. About 1,500 worshippers gathered inside a damaged mosque in the center of Muzaffarabad.

"God, forgive us," said the cleric, Mulana Sazluddin Chishdi. "Help all those who are helping others in this hard time, and give the nation courage to bear this loss and take part in the reconstruction of this city."