[Shannon]

South Asian quake toll nears 20,000

Pakistan declares three days of national mourning

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Rescue workers pulled survivors from rubble and uncovered bodies from debris in Islamabad and elsewhere a day after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake caused devastation across South Asia.

Nearly 20,000 people were estimated killed in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan as a result of Saturday's quake.

The death toll is expected to rise once remote areas of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and the country's North-West Province are reached. Communication to many of those areas was cut off because of the temblor, and landslides had rendered roads inaccessible.

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf issued a plea on Sunday for foreign aid -- specifically, cargo helicopters and relief goods such as tents and blankets.

Helicopters are necessary, he said, because roads leading into some remote areas have been buried by landslides and the areas cannot be reached.

Musharraf said it was difficult to reach remote areas, "which are mountains anywhere over 10,000 feet."

"We can only go by roads, and roads also don't reach to every corner, so therefore it's only helicopter access that we have. Things are not as simple as one would see in the West."

He asked the international community to "bear with us. We have formulated our strategy now. UK and U.S., yes, indeed, we will expect helicopter support from you."

Musharraf said he had asked the U.S. government to send helicopters from Afghanistan, and had been promised those helicopters although they had not yet arrived.

The president planned to tour quake-struck areas for a second day on Sunday, the first of a three-day period of national mourning declared by the Pakistan government.


Full Article Here:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/as...tan/index.html

[Umit]

terrible...Turkey has sent rescue and aid teams today.

[Shannon]

Good im glad, i hope the US sends those helicopters. There an unusual amount of this this stuff going on in the world at the moment. Maybe i didnt notice it before, am i wrong?
I dont think so, theres natural disasters everywhere!

[Mella]

How awful.

I've been watching the news about it, and they were interviewing people who's relatives have died in the earthquake - very sad.

Dunno what is happenening, but it seems like ever since the Tsunami the world has gone to pot.

RIP to all those that have sadly lost their lives.

[nessie]

Originally Posted by Shannon

Good im glad, i hope the US sends those helicopters. There an unusual amount of this this stuff going on in the world at the moment. Maybe i didnt notice it before, am i wrong?
I dont think so, theres natural disasters everywhere!

I agree Shannon,it's scary... Biblical warnings spring to mind.Last days an all that.Hope they receive all the international support needed.Those poor people,what a horrible disaster.

[toksoz]

My heartfelt sympathies for the victims of this terrible disaster. They are in my prayers.

[zory19]

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

[Mella]

Awwww, that's lovely, Zory. so sweet..