29 Oct 2007 - The International Rescue Committee is participating in a number of special events in Pakistan during October to mark the second anniversary of the devastating South Asian earthquake.

Members of the IRC’s Pakistan country program took part in a memorial program in Islamabad, along with diplomats and representatives of other aid organizations. Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf thanked the NGOs for their help and urged them to continue reconstruction work.

In Mansehra, the IRC participated in a week of activities, including simulations of emergency response, seminars on lessons learned from the earthquake recovery effort, and contributions to special newspaper and magazine supplements that commemorated the quake.

In Panjagran, the IRC hosted a ceremony for quake survivors, including a special one for school children, where they were able to remember and reflect upon the disaster.

In an interview with GEO television news, Mustafa Elkanzi, the IRC country director, said that his first reaction after the quake struck was that “this country would never return to normal again.” However, Elkanzi said, the recovery that has been achieved during the past two years through the collective effort of the international community, NGOs, the Pakistan government and local citizens is nothing short of “extraordinary.” 

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