UN calls for £310m to stop second wave of death in quake-hit Pakistan
by Declan Walsh in Islamabad, Thursday October 27, 2005
Slightly modified from: The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,7369,1601442,00.html
The UN almost doubled its emergency appeal for earthquake-struck Pakistan to $550m (£310m) yesterday as aid
workers warned of a second catastrophe from the approaching Himalayan winter. "The scale of this tragedy almost
defies our darkest imagination," the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, declared. "We meet today to prevent a
second shockwave of deaths and suffering," he told representatives from 65 developed countries at a donor
conference in Geneva, after observing a minute's silence for the estimated 79,000 victims of the October 8
disaster. "We do have the power to stop the next wave - the deaths and despair caused by freezing temperatures
and disease, by lack of shelter, food and water."
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies earlier doubled its appeal to $117m. By last
night just 12% of the UN appeal had been met, although fresh pledges were expected. The British aid group Oxfam
accused wealthy countries of not giving their fair share, and said that seven - Belgium, France, Austria, Finland,
Greece, Portugal, and Spain - had given nothing. "The logistical nightmare is bad enough without having to worry
about funding shortfalls as well," said Jo Leadbeater of Oxfam. Britain's official contribution of $17m - part of a
larger $59m relief package - is just below its "fair share", Oxfam said. The British public has given £25m.
Yesterday poor visibility grounded three RAF Chinook helicopters which had been due to start airlifting supplies
from an airbase in Rawalpindi. On the ground in northern Pakistan, aid workers warned that the death toll could
rise sharply as sub-zero temperatures and snow blanket isolated valleys where some 800,000 people are without
shelter. Helicopters, tents and medical treatment are in chronically short supply.
In Bagh, south of the earthquake epicentre, Médecins Sans Frontières said survivors could perish from
hypothermia and pneumonia if enough tents were not found. Doctors are also worried about infectious diseases.
MSF has set up an isolation ward in Bagh for a man suspected of having the deadly haemorrhagic fever. Local
authorities have started to kill dogs to prevent the spread of other diseases, such as kala-azar, which attacks the
liver.
In the neighbouring North-West Frontier province, Caroline Broudic of Action Against Hunger had just returned
from a three-day trek through the earthquake-ravaged Alai valley. After crossing an unstable landslide her team
reached Gangwal, 1,940 metres (6,300ft) up the mountain, where survivors were cowering under makeshift
shelters made out of mud and plastic sheeting. "We could hear fresh landslides," she said.
Pakistan's prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, appealed to mountain-dwellers to descend to the valleys, where the army
is setting up giant tented camps, for the duration of the winter. But survivors are reluctant to leave the rubble of
their houses without first removing valuables, food and the bodies of dead relatives.
Vocabulary

aid – help. This word is preferred in the context of
helping poor or disaster-hit countries.

to airlift supplies – to bring materials by airplane or
helicopter

appeal – a request, a petition

to appeal to – (1) to make a request to (2) to seem
attractive to

the death toll – the number of people who have died

donor – a person or entity that is giving (donating)
money or things

earthquake-struck – that was hit by an earthquake

fair share – the quantity that could be considered the
correct one, considering the circumstances of each
one

a funding shortfall – when not enough money is
received

infectious diseases – similar to infectious illnesses,
except that diseases are more serious than illnesses

lack of – not having sth that is needed (falta de;
mancança de)













landslide – like an avalanche of earth
makeshift shelter – a badly-made, temporary place of
protection
mountain-dwellers – people who live in the mountains
to perish – to die
pledge – a promise to give money (or do sth else)
quake-hit – same as “earthquake-struck”
relief – aid to people with an acute need, such as after
a natural disaster
rubble – the broken pieces of a destroyed building
to set up – to create or organize sth at the start
shelter – a protected place
the spread of diseases – the passing of diseases from
one person/animal to another
survivors – people who were not killed in a terrible
event
wave – a strong rise or increase of sth (ola/onda,
ona/onada)
Questions:
1. Give 3 reasons that could explain why people and countries are not giving enough money to Pakistan.
2. What could cause the “second wave” of deaths, if enough aid is not given?
Gap-fill exercise:
Fill the gaps in the following sentences with one of the words/expressions listed below. If it is a verb, put it in the correct form.
to airlift
in short supply
relief
to appeal
landslides
to spread
death toll
makeshift shelters
funding shortfalls
moment of silence
1.
2.
After the terrorist attack, the university called for a _____________________ at 12:00.
The number of doctors cannot be increased at the clinic due to _____________________. (The government is not
giving them enough money.)
3. During the Cold War, supplies were often ____________________ to Berlin, which was isolated in the middle of East
Germany.
4. Avian flu is _________________ extremely quickly among birds, and we are hoping that it does not transform into a flu
that can _______________ from human to human. [the same word twice]
5. During the war, many foods and other daily items were ___________________, so people had to look for alternatives.
6. Peaceful Basques have ________________ to the violent ones to stop their acts of terrorism and violence.
7. The refugees built ___________________, where they lived until they could get permits to reside and work in the
country.
8. After the earthquake in Guatemala, there were terrible _________________ that covered entire villages in 6 meters of
mud.
9. The _____________________ of the terrorist attack in Madrid in 2004 was approximately 200.
10. After an earthquake, lots of ___________________ is normally sent to the affected area, in the form of food, water,
medical supplies, tents, and so on.