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To:	natodoc@hq.nato.int
Subject:	Earthquake in South Asia
Message:	Dear Mr. De Hoop Scheffer, As a concerned citizen of the world, I am genuinely grateful for the earthquake relief aid provided to date by NATO's two air bridges. However, I appeal to you and the NATO Ambassadors to commit NATO's helicopter assets immediately in order to rescue tens of thousands of earthquake survivors who could die within weeks. NATO has the power to prevent this human tragedy from reaching truly catastrophic proportions by launching a massive airlift to evacuate those earthquake victims before winter sets in. The UK Government's Department for International Development's 19 October, 2005 Situation Report states, 'some 20% of worst hit areas (such as Neelum, Jhelum and Kaghan valleys) have been cut off from the rest of the country, with badly damaged roads and bridges. Tens of thousands of people still cannot be reached.' U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said: 'In terms of logistics, the difficult terrain makes this one of the most challenging r elief operations ever undertaken. Winter is approaching fast, and temperatures are dropping….And unlike some natural disasters, in which victims die immediately, the death toll in Pakistan is not over yet. An estimated 3 million men, women and children are homeless. Many of them have no blankets or tents to protect them against the merciless Himalayan winter….That means a second, massive wave of death will happen if we do not step up our efforts now.' UNICEF estimates that 10,000 children could die of hunger, hypothermia and disease in within the next few weeks. UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman states that 'there are still too few helicopters to reach more than 1,000 remote villages with life-saving supplies that children urgently need.' While there are an estimated 60 helicopters operational and another 20 in the pipeline, aid agencies estimate that at least another 150 helicopters are required to save lives before it is too late. We are rapidly running out of time. I sincerely hope that you and the NATO Ambassadors listen to my plea and assign the additional helicopters that are so desperately needed to save the lives of tens of thousands of people. With profound thanks