AFGHAN QUAKE (VOA, FEB 19)

DATE=2/19/98 BYLINE=SARAH HORNER

INTRO: A LONG-AWAITED AIRDROP OF EMERGENCY AID HAS BEGUN IN AN AREA OF NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN DEVASTATED TWO-WEEKS AGO BY A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE. AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE AIRDROP IS EXPECTED TO LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

TEXT: AID WORKERS IN THE ROSTAQ DISTRICT OF TAKHAR PROVINCE WERE RELIEVED WHEN THE FIRST OF SEVERAL PLANNED AIRDROPS WAS COMPLETED (THURSDAY).

THE JOINT OPERATION BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS HAS TAKEN SOME TIME TO ORGANIZE AND HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY DELAYED BY BAD WEATHER. BUT, AT LAST A CLEAR DAY APPEARED AND THE AID AGENCIES WERE ABLE TO PUT THEIR PLANS INTO ACTION.

THE U-N SPOKESPERSON IN THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD -- SARAH RUSSELL -- TOLD V-O-A ABOUT THE MOOD OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE.

// RUSSELL ACT //

OBVIOUSLY HUGE RELIEF FROM THE AID WORKERS WHO WERE RUNNING OUT OF THINGS TO DISTRIBUTE. THIS IS BEING REINFORCED BY A CONVOY OF COMMODITIES WHICH IS COMING THROUGH FROM TAJIKISTAN BY ROAD AND BARGE. SO THIS WILL BE A HUGE BOOST TO THE MORALE OF EVERYBODY IN ROSTAQ.

// END ACT //

MS RUSSELL SAID 13-TONS OF AID WAS DROPPED FROM ONE FLIGHT. SHE SAID SHE HOPES THE C-130 TRANSPORT PLANE -- LEASED FROM A U-S COMPANY -- WILL FLY TWO OR THREE SORTIES FRIDAY AND BRING 30-TO-40-TONS OF AID TO ROSTAQ.

// RUSSELL ACT //

WE DROPPED / NON-FOOD ITEMS, BASICALLY BLANKETS AND SOAP BOUND UP IN 50-KILO BAGS WHICH WE DROPPED AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 70 FEET. WE WILL BE GOING BACK TOMORROW WITH MORE SHELTER MATERIALS. WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO DROP FOOD IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE PRIORITY NEED. WHAT WE NEED TO GET IN MOST URGENTLY IS CANVAS, PLASTIC SHEETING, BLANKETS AND CLOTHES.

// END ACT //

THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE RED CROSS ARE APPEALING FOR MORE DONATIONS TO FUND THE AIRDROP.

AID OFFICIALS ESTIMATE 45-HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY THE EARTHQUAKE -- MEASURING SIX-POINT-ONE ON THE RICHTER SCALE -- WHICH STRUCK THIS REMOTE HIMLAYAN DISTRICT TWO WEEKS AGO.

AID WORKERS FEAR COLD AND DISEASE WILL PUSH THE DEATH TOLL HIGHER. ABOUT 30-THOUSAND SURVIVORS -- MANY OF WHOM ARE HOMELESS -- ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AND RECOVER IN BITTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. (SIGNED).