Wednesday, November 23, 2005

(CNN) -- Indian officials said Saturday that if Pakistan agrees, India will open three relief camps for earthquake survivors in Kashmir along the Line of Control.The line separates the disputed region between areas controlled by the two rivals, which have fought three wars over the territory since 1947.India would allow people seeking medical care and food to cross from the Pakistani side of Kashmir into the Indian side and remain temporarily, said a spokesman for the Indian government. "Arrangement is being made for providing relief material, medical aid, food, drinking water and temporary accommodation at these points," the spokesman said. The relief centers could be opened by Tuesday, he added.The offer came a day after Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf appealed for more relief supplies to be distributed to survivors of the 7.6-magnitude earthquake. Half a million tents and blankets are still needed, Musharraf told CNN. With cold weather approaching, hundreds of homeless Pakistanis will die if they do not receive temporary shelter, he said.Musharraf told CNN that if people drop off supplies at Pakistan's embassies and consulates worldwide, he promised the supplies would reach people in need.International aid groups also have said they are in desperate need of more help for the victims, with thousands facing death in the Himalayas from exposure.The quake devastated the northern part of Pakistan nation nearly two weeks ago. Nearly 53,000 people were killed and more than 74,500 injured in Pakistan, according to the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.India says the quake killed 1,200 people in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The Indian government and private groups have already delivered 82 tons of medicines, 104,550 blankets, 20,620 tents, 35,000 mattresses, 28 tons of plastic sheeting and 100 tons of fortified biscuits to Pakistan, said the Indian government spokesman.Over the next few days in Indian-controlled Kashmir, India is providing a free telephone service that enables people to inquire about missing relatives in Pakistan.NATO has agreed to send as many as 1,000 military engineers, medics and other troops to help with the relief efforts. (Full story)U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that international donors have pledged a little more than 8 percent -- or $37 million -- of the $312 million that relief agencies estimate is needed. (See which agencies accept donations)CNN's Becky Anderson, Satinder Bindra, Ram Ramgopal and Syed Mohsin Naqvi contributed to this report. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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