Who should supply helicopters, tents, foods and medicines and other aid for earthquake victims?
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Kashmir quake toll nears 40,000; rain hits relief, Â Storms promise more quake misery,
Pakistan Quake Death Toll Nears 40,000, Â Kashmiris wake to cold and storms a week after quake,
India Gives Aid Groups Kashmir Access, Â Killer Quake a Grim Reminder to Pakistanis
The Pakistan earthquake death toll stood at 38,000 on Saturday but was expected to rise as more landslides were cleared. Rain prevented most helicopters from delivering aid Saturday. There were not enough helicopters or winterized tents. Heavy lifting equipment, field hospitals and medicine are also desperately needed. Storms and a cold snap was forecast. The United Nations emergency appeal has increased to nearly $312 million. Dozens of countries have responded. Aid is now being allowed into the militarized area of Indian Kashmir. Prior to October 8, the deadliest earthquake in Pakistan had been the magnitude 7.5 one in 1935 which destroyed the city of Quetta, when relief was swiftly organised by the British army in much easier terrain.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita stories
La. Lawmakers Face Devastating Budget Cuts
Louisiana is facing drastic budget cuts in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, with little money coming in from the usual sources, but it is required by law to maintain a balanced budget. After using all available funds, cuts of at least 21% are needed, with 18,000 jobs being axed. There have been no promises of federal bailout.
FEMA Maintains Limited-Competition Deals
In spite of FEMA acting director R. David Paulison's original statement that, "All of those no-bid contracts, we are going to go back and rebid," only a few are being rebid. $347 million is being spent on Hurricane Katrina-related contracts that were awarded with little or no competition. $2.3 billion had been awarded in contracts up to Oct 10.
DOT Investigates Fatal Bus Fire After Rita
The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into why the company that owned the bus which caught fire killing 23 elderly evacuees last month was given a satisfactory rating by regulators.
Elephants Help Clean Up New Orleans Zoo
There is a lot of debris at Audubon zoo in New Orleans, and the elephants are helping by eating a lot of it. Most of the animals and some of the staff stayed at the zoo during hurricane Katrina, where the reptile house was hurricane-proof. Other zoos are sending in assistance since the zoo is not generating any income at present.
Other stories
Northeast Flooding Death Toll Reaches 11, Waterlogged Northeastern U.S. under flood warnings
11 people have now died in flooding in the northeast USA where much of the region is under flood warnings and New Jersey and Massachusetts declared a state of emergency. Forecasters hoped the weather should start clearing Sunday.
Deadly bird flu confirmed in Romania's Danube delta, Â Next human pandemic "inevitable," says U.S. scientist,
Health Official Warns of Bird Flu Pandemic, Bird Flu Virus Resistant to Tamiflu,
Resistant Flu Found; EU Prepares, Â Bird Flu Hits Europe,
Indian Co. Plans Generic Bird Flu Drug
Tests have confirmed that the bird flu found in Romania on the Danube Delta is strain deadly to humans. Many birds on the delta are en route for North Africa for the winter.
China says it has developed an improved vaccine for birds in the form of a low-cost spray.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that the next human pandemic is "inevitable". Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has ended his tour of Southeast Asia.
A strain of bird flu virus found in a Vietnamese girl was resistant to Tamiflu, the drug upon which much of the world is depending as a first defence of the disease.
A major Indian pharmaceutical company plans to sell a cheap generic version of Tamiflu, even though the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG has not licensed any generic versions.
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Edited 10/18/05 by Sue_N | 
