Has your government sent enough aid to earthquake survivors?

Kashmir Quake stories

Aid effort turns from rescue to relief,   Rescue Efforts Wind Down in Pakistan,
Remote Villages in Kashmir Await Aid,   Weather promises more misery for Pakistan survivors,
UNICEF: Quake May Kill Thousands of Kids,   Quake Hit Kashmir Refugee Camps,
Burden of Fasting Added to Quake Aid Work,   Aftershock rattles Pakistan quake survivors,
Quake deepens fissures in Kashmir despite army help,   Police Probe Islamabad Building Collapse,
Canadian Groups Work on Quake Aid Together,   Bush Visits Pakistan Embassy in D.C.

The search for earthquake survivors ended Friday for some rescue teams. There were forecasts of thunderstorms and cold. Children are particularly at risk of death from cold, malnutrition and disease. More helicopters are still needed for relief efforts, with some remote villages still not having received aid. Rescue and relief work is particularly tough for those fasting during the day for Ramadan. Among the casualties were Kashmiri refugees at a camp housing 2,500 that was engulfed by the side of a mountain. There was a magnitude 5.3 aftershock Friday. About 3.3 million people were affected by the quake, of whom over a million are homeless. Villagers in Indian Kashmir are wondering when they will see aid from the India government or people. Whilst rescuers are still looking for survivors in the rubble, of a 10-story luxury apartment building in Islamabad, police have opened an inquiry into why it collapsed, killing at least 40 people, when all other buildings in the city remained standing. Four Canadian aid agencies have combines their fundraising efforts. The Canadian government has pledged $17 million and to match donations. President Bush visited Pakistan's ambassador in D.C. on Friday to express condolences and offer help.

Bird Flu stories

Turkey tests for bird flu as experts meet,   US says bird flu in Europe a "troubling sign",
WHO: Bird flu in Europe is "call to arms",   WHO cautions on bird flu "false alarms",
Questions and Answers on Bird Flu Virus,   Roche Boosting Production of Bird Flu Drug,
U.S. Protects Against Spread of Bird Flu

Nine people in Turkey, where deadly bird flu has been confirmed, have been tested for the disease after their pigeons died.

The World Health Organization says that the arrival of bird flu in Europe has increased the chances of human cases, but so far the deadly strain is mutating but still does not spread easily from birds to humans (there is only on definite case known). False alarms are likely. Tamiflu is recommended as a way of surviving the bird flu, but it takes a year to produce, and it is not sure how effective it would be.

The U.S. is taking steps to prevent or slow the spread of disease via planes, learning from the lesson of SARS.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita stories

New Orleans mayor touts jobs, housing to displaced

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been touring Louisiana trying to persuade residents to come home with offers of housing and jobs, even though he has recently had to lay 3,000 off because of budget problems. He also visited the morgue.

King Midas Returns to Big Easy Aquarium

About 10,000 animals were lost from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas during Hurricane Katrina, but a few survived. 19 penguins, two sea otters, an anaconda, the aquarium's bird collection, the tarpon, a few stingrays and a few hundred freshwater fish survived, along with King Midas, a 300-pound sea turtle who was returned to his home Thursday after a spell in Texas. The penguins and otters were looked after at one point by the police, who set up a command post at the aquarium. Most survivors were sent to other aquaria when the water quality deteriorated and King Midas is the first to return.

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Mediterranean Fruit Fly Photo courtesy of USDA

Medflies Found in Calif. Prompt Quarantine

A quarantine is planned in California after some Mediterranean fruit flies were found. This invasive species can be devastating to crops but is no threat to humans.

Crab Fishing Rules Leave Hundreds Jobless

New regulations intended to rationalise the frenzy of trawling in the Bering Sea for crab has left many fishermen without work.

UNH Research Center Studies Rain Runoff

The University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center is studying the runoff from parking lots, roads and lawns, which cause most of the water pollution in the country. They have found that retention ponds and gullies lined with gravel are poor ways to deal with stormwaters. Soils and plants that mimic natural wetlands do well in tests, even when the ground should be frozen.

Has your government sent enough aid to earthquake survivors?

Index of topics in this series.

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