10 Oct · Mon 2005
Earthquake in Kashmir
My thoughts too are with those affected by the earthquakes around Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. I understand that many UK residents with families in Pakistan are heading out to help and to be with their relatives. Apparently the British High Commission in Islamabad has set up a desk at the airport to offer people additional information on arrival.
The UK Foreign Office pages on Pakistan are understandably somewhat slow to load at the moment, so here is a copy of the information posted as of today (Monday 10th Oct 15:30 GMT):
SUMMARY
* A large earthquake on 8 October with its epicentre near Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir has caused widespread damage. There is extensive disruption to transport services in the region. Details are continuing to emerge.
* We advise against all travel to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas adjacent to Afghanistan, including Waziristan and the Khyber Pass. We advise against all travel to areas where there are ongoing military operations.
* We advise against all but essential travel to the Swat Valley in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), northern and western Baluchistan, including Quetta, and the Sui/Dera Bugti area, and to all border areas except for official crossing points. We advise travellers against using the rail network in Baluchistan.
* There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Pakistan. British nationals of Western origin are more likely to be targeted but everyone is at risk from indiscriminate attacks. Previous attacks against Westerners have included bombings and kidnaps.
* On 22 September 2005, two small bombs in Lahore killed seven people and injured 36.
* There is a high risk of sectarian violence throughout Pakistan. We recommend that you avoid places of worship and surrounding areas at busy prayer times.
* Since mid-July 2005, sectarian tensions in the Gilgit area have risen sharply and have included violent attacks. You should only travel to Gilgit by air, and avoid the centre of town. Road travel direct from the airport north to Baltistan and the Hunza valley is possible. Caution should be exercised when travelling by road along the Karakorum Highway (KKH). You are advised to join a police guarded convoy and travel in daylight hours on the KKH.
* There is also a serious risk of criminal violence, especially in Karachi. You should be very careful about, and confident of your personal security arrangements throughout your visit.
* For more specific local security advice about the cities of Islamabad and Karachi you should contact the Consular sections in the High Commission in Islamabad and in the Deputy High Commission in Karachi respectively (during office hours: GMT +5 hours - contact details below).
* If you or your father were born in Pakistan you might be considered by the authorities to be a Pakistani national even if you do not hold a Pakistani passport. In such circumstances, the British government might be prevented from providing the full range of consular assistance.
* You should obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
If you need to keep informed about earthquake activity around the world, this site has clear and useful maps of historical data, and an email alert service you can sign up to.
There are also different maps and data (as well as another route in to the USGS pages here at the Edinburgh Earth Observatory site.
Now that's what I call open source!
Thanks to Horst Thieme for the pointer to this Danish site . Beer, brewed under Creative Commons on an open source basis. Oh, those crazy Danes.
Note: "Vores Oel" means "our beer". Asking for "Øl" (pronounced the way an Englishman would say "earl") sounds like you want lubrication. Which, in a way, I suppose you do. After all, I think our friends in Oz refer to it as neck-oil. ;^)
Posted by racingsnake
@ 11:19 AM GMT+00:00
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