Presser by Musharraf, Japan delivers helicopters

Описание: (15 Oct 2005)

1. Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf inspecting Chaklala military airbase where all flights are landing
2. Wide of Iranian aeroplane
3. Various of Musharraf walking into press conference at Chaklala airbase
4. Media
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani President:
"As far as we are concerned roughly about 38-thousand dead, but I cannot vouch for its accuracy. I think it will keep rising. When we go into these valleys of Jehlum and Neelum River valley, I am reasonably sure it's going to rise. Now, we have now set up... I want to get a more accurate estimate."
6. Journalists
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani President:
"Now eight days is gone. We are still looking at rescue operations, there are rescue operations going on but they say technically after eight days it's going to be more a miracle saving, which we are continuing. Other than that, obviously we should still get the bodies out and bury them for religious connotation or even from medical point of views, we don't want epidemics to be spread. So that effort will continue to clear bodies from the rubble."
8. Wide shot of press conference
9. Japanese aeroplane landing at Chaklala airport
10. Japanese flag on side of plane
11. Japanese personnel stepping out of plane
12. Japanese personnel
13. Various of helicopters being unloaded from plane
14. Various of people standing around helicopter

STORYLINE

The death toll in Pakistan's devastating earthquake rose to nearly 40-thousand on Saturday, while rain, snow and frigidly cold weather compounded the misery of (m) millions of homeless victims and grounded some relief flights a week after the disaster.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf said the grim numbers - 38-thousand dead and 62-thousand injured in Pakistan alone - are likely to rise in coming days as rescue and recovery teams reach more communities.

Some are still virtually untouched since the October 8 earthquake.

Musharraf told a news conference at Chaklala military airbase in Rawalpindi, near the capital: "I think it (the death toll) will keep rising when we go into these valleys."

Musharraf said the greatest need now is for tents to shelter an estimated two (m) million homeless survivors ahead of the harsh Himalayan winter.

Snow has already fallen in some parts of the region and temperatures have begun to drop.

Heavy rain began falling early on Saturday in many quake-hit towns and snow fell in the surrounding mountains, disrupting relief efforts.

More planes landed at Chaklala military airbase on Saturday - one from Japan was carrying helicopters.

According to Musharraf a "president's rehabilitation initiative" was being created to decide how devastated areas could be rebuilt, and whether individual villages would be rebuilt in the same locations or moved elsewhere.

The initiative will be headed by the army's top engineer.

Musharraf said some rescue efforts continued even as the overwhelming thrust of operations turned to relief and disease prevention.

"There are rescue operations going on... but after eight days it's going to be more a miracle" to save anyone else, he said.

The official toll, which previously stood at 25-thousand, rose sharply because more bodies have been pulled from the rubble in recent days, army officials said.

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