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CNN Live At Daybreak
Quake Aftermath; Plea for Relief; Massive Flooding
Aired October 10, 2005 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen in today for Carol Costello.
Coming up in the next 30 minutes, devastation in South Asia. Thousands upon thousands are dead and injured after a massive earthquake strikes. Recovery efforts are also under way.
And a state of emergency in New Hampshire where weekend rains leave some towns under water.
But first, "Now in the News."
President Bush heads to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast today. His two-day trip will focus on housing for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The president will make stops in the cities of New Orleans and Covington, which is in Louisiana. Then he will visit Pass Christian, Mississippi.
Efforts to revive global trade talks are under way today in Zurich, Switzerland. The top U.S. trade official proposes deep cuts in farm subsidies and the eventual elimination of agriculture tariffs.
North Korea celebrated the 60th anniversary of its Communist Party today. Leaders vow to pursue a stronger military. And speculation mounted over whether its leader, Kim Jong-Il, would use the occasion to name a successor.
Chad Myers joins us now for a look at the forecast.
Boy, those folks in New Hampshire are dealing a lot, a lot of flooding.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know a foot of rain in some spots up there.
NGUYEN: Yikes!
MYERS: Yes, exactly. Ten inches in a lot of other areas here, and that's just wide, widespread rain.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Happy Monday.
MYERS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Yes. Thank you -- Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
NGUYEN: Mass destruction, a rising death toll and a desperate need for relief. We begin with the aftermath of last weekend's earthquake in South Asia.
In response to Pakistan's plea for help, the U.S. is rushing aid to the region. It's made an initial pledge of up to $50 million. The U.S. is also sending military aircraft, and they'll carry supplies to remote spots that rescuers haven't been able to reach. Also, a seven- member disaster assistance response team arrives in Pakistan today.
Meanwhile, the death toll is now approaching 31,000. And workers are digging through mountains of rubble in search for survivors.
CNN's Matthew Chance is in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, and he joins us now from one of the hardest hit areas.
Matthew, I know in a few hours from now night will begin to fall. Give us a recap of what you've seen today. And, obviously, it's very important that these rescuers get to the people trapped under that rubble just as soon as possible.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. I'm actually talking to you from the remote North-West Frontier Province, which is very close indeed to the Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but just outside of that area. But still, nevertheless, one of the areas most severely struck by that powerful earthquake that rocked this part of the world on Saturday morning local time.
I'm in the town of Balakot. I've been here throughout the course of the day. A town, last week, which had the population of 250,000 people. Who knows how many people are still living here now?
But I can tell you every single one of the concrete houses that are built in this very picturesque valley in the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains, every one of those houses has now been flattened. Thousands of people are now made homeless. Many of them injured, lining up in makeshift camps along the banks of the river that runs through this town and waiting for whatever assistance they get from the Pakistani Army.
They're very angry, many of the locals we've spoken to, because they believe they have not been given enough attention, either by the Pakistani authorities or by the international aid efforts. It's a very remote location up here, and that's been one of the reasons why it's been so difficult to get aid up here. But nevertheless, this is still one of the areas most severely affected by that powerful quake. And people here looking for the Pakistani government, looking for the international community to make more efforts here.
And in fact, over the course of the past few minutes, a helicopter has arrived carrying the first international team of rescue workers to come to this part of Pakistan. It's a French team with 25 people, experts in extracting survivors from these earthquake-struck buildings, with a team of sniffer dogs as well. And so the hope is, obviously, that they'll be able to find some survivors in this chaos -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Matthew, for the thousands who did survive, obviously they are outside without a home. What is being done to give them food and shelter?
CHANCE: Not very much, and that's one of those things they've been extremely upset, desperate and angry about. But certainly they don't have any shelter here, and that's a problem, because in the daytime here it gets extremely hot, and that's obviously dehydration, another problem. And at nighttime, because it's such a high altitude in this part of the world, it gets extremely cold. And so there are problems of exposure, as well, even for those who escaped any injury in this terrible earthquake. They are still, literally, under severe threat.
And so they're looking for the Pakistani government and the aid agencies, of course, to bring them shelters, to bring them water, to bring them food. But as yet, only a trickle has arrived, and nowhere near enough to cater to the thousands of people who are in desperate, desperate need now.
NGUYEN: Matthew, you bring up a very good point, especially for those who were rescued but are injured. This being such a remote area, are there hospitals nearby? How are they getting treatment for those injuries?
CHANCE: There are hospitals nearby, but everybody in them has been killed. They've been flattened. And so there are no medical facilities in this area of Pakistan for any of the injured people.
A small team of Pakistani military doctors has arrived here. Four people, in fact, arrived here with very limited resources. Over the course of the past 24 hours, one of the doctors there told me that they have seen a thousand patients, some of them with extremely severe injuries, others with very minor injuries, but they're having to see everybody. And so they're saying things (ph) all of them, and they're greatly overstretched compared to the need for medical treatment here, but nowhere near the kind of medical supplies they need to actually stop people from dying here.
And that's really what it's about at this stage, two, three days on from when the earthquake struck, people may have been injured. But you know if you're not treated for those injuries, obviously you fall sick and you die. And that's what's happening to people here, and that's why people are so desperate.
NGUYEN: It's just such a heartbreaking scenario.
Matthew Chance, thank you for filling us in on what's happening right now.
Families are huddled under makeshift tents in the wake of this quake, desperately waiting for help. And rescuers, money and supplies are arriving from around the world, but they haven't been able to get some of those supplies to the hardest hit areas.
Joining us now from London is Cassandra Nelson, spokeswoman for Mercy Corps. She actually lives in Islamabad, Pakistan, and is trying to get back there.
I guess my first question to you, in light of that, is where were you when the quake hit? And have you heard about your home and your family? Are they alive? Is your home still standing? What do you know?
CASSANDRA NELSON, MERCY CORPS: Actually, I was in London when it struck. And I haven't heard about my home. I actually used to live in the apartment building next to the one that has completely collapsed, so I'm glad I moved. And certainly I'm hoping that everything is fine when I get back. But I'm more, to be honest, more eager to get back so I can join the Mercy Corps team and help out with the relief effort that we're starting there.
NGUYEN: Well tell us what the Mercy Corps team...
NELSON: And our entire team -- yes, the Mercy Corps team has, you know, everyone is fine. There were no injuries, and so we're very fortunate there.
NGUYEN: That is good news. But what is the Mercy Corps team doing at this point, because I know early on they weren't being allowed into these areas just because of the fear of aftershocks and of course the government was doing its own rescue efforts? Is Mercy Corps taking part in the actual rescuing of people trapped under rubble?
NELSON: No, Mercy Corps is not a search-and-rescue operation. We're actually working with the survivors.
NGUYEN: OK.
NELSON: So we provide immediate emergency assistance, in this case, to the people that have survived. And certainly, I mean, if we're there and we see people that need assistance that may be stuck, we'll help them out.
NGUYEN: Sure.
NELSON: But we're not trained, we don't have sniffer dogs. Our focus is on helping the survivors. And we actually have been out in the field for about the last 48 hours. We have a team that went up with our medical doctor, actually, to the Balakot area, where I know Matthew Chance is reporting from.
Our team was up there and assessing the area and put together a team of about five doctors. And we are now, today, driving up all supplies to actually set up a small medical unit in that area, because they don't have any medical care, as you're reporting. So that's one of our major priorities is to get lifesaving medical care into that area. And then on Tuesday, we're going to actually begin distribution of tents, food, you know, ready-to-eat meal rations, as well as blankets and other items. We'll be doing it by land, where it's possible. And we've also coordinated with the military who's going to be flying us on their helicopters. We'll be handling the distribution of the aid. They're basically driving and we're dropping. But that will start on Tuesday. So it's -- and that's going into areas like Naran and Kagan, two areas that are completely cut off from any road access.
NGUYEN: Are you prepared for the sheer number of people who need food and shelter and all the things to survive in the wake of such a powerful earthquake?
NELSON: You know I don't think anyone can be prepared for something like this. I mean, Mercy Corps, you know we were first responders in the tsunami, you know in the Bam Earthquake. And you know certainly I -- you know in no case can you say that you're fully prepared to ever deal with these issues.
I think, in the case in Pakistan, we have a very large team. We've been working in the country for about two decades. So we have over a hundred staff strong there. We have vehicles. We have expertise. And we also have very good procurement channels. So a lot of these things we're able to procure on the local market, like all the medical supplies.
Pakistan has a very large pharmaceutical industry that we've basically spent all last night at a 24-hour pharmaceutical supply center and was able to stock up with that. Same with tents and things. So we're able. You know we don't have warehouses sitting around full of these things just in case you know an earthquake strikes, because you never know where it's going to strike.
NGUYEN: Right.
NELSON: But what we do have is we have a very good basis to really acquire those things and move very quickly in the area.
NGUYEN: And very quickly tell us, for the folks watching, if they want to help, how can they help?
NELSON: Well the best way to help is if you can go to the Mercy Corps Web site. It's www.mercycorps.org. And there you know cash donations are at this time the most useful, because we're able to then go out onto the market locally, procure those items and get them in to the people's hands who need them most.
NGUYEN: And they need them very desperately and really fast.
Cassandra Nelson, Senior Media Global Officer from Mercy Corps, we thank you for your time and we thank you for what you're doing.
DAYBREAK will be right back.
NELSON: Thank you. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: New Hampshire is cleaning up today after heavy rains flooded homes and streets. The governor calls it the worst flooding in the state in 25 years.
Reporter Kria Sakakeeny of our affiliate station WMUR joins us now with more.
Bring us up to date, where does the flooding stand right now?
KRIA SAKAKEENY, WMUR-TV REPORTER: All right, Betty. Well we're in Keene, which is a popular city in the western part of the state, just one of the many areas that was hit with the flooding. We're standing on a downtown street, which has been evacuated. They evacuated about a thousand people from Keene and about 80 of them stayed in shelters overnight. And if we can pan over, we can see some of the debris left behind. And the streets, of course, completely flooded.
Now the big problem is that rivers and streams throughout the state in the western part took bridges out. And in fact, wiped out some homes and businesses, which were on the edge of the rivers. In fact, causing a fair amount of damage.
Now in Unity, two people were killed when a car flipped over. They were found in the car. And overnight, they were searching for four people. Fortunately, two of whom have been found.
The governor, of course, did declare this a state of emergency. He deployed about 500 National Guard members to help out. And they do believe that repairs will take about a month, at least, to get things back up to normal. The biggest problem is roads have been weakened. They believe the structures underneath have been completely damaged. And they're asking people to be ware driving across the roads, because they could give way.
Now of course, as you said, this is the biggest natural disaster the state has seen in 25 years. People are seeing their furnaces floating down rivers. They're seeing roofs. They're seeing pieces of walls of buildings floating down the river. People used to seeing this down in the south, unbelieving that this actually happened up here in New Hampshire.
NGUYEN: A couple of things I want to ask you about, what is the forecast like today, if any more rain is going to fall? And also, any idea when people will be able to get back into those homes after they've had to evacuate, obviously, because of the flooding?
SAKAKEENY: Well the rain did start on Friday and went through Friday, through Saturday. They say about 11 inches of rain came down here in Keene. Last night, we did have some rain, although nothing right now. As you can see, it's fairly dry. So forecasters are just keeping a very close watch on things.
As for people getting back to their homes, the biggest problem is they had to shut electricity down, because it's simply unsafe to turn it back on with all that water. So they're going to be going door to door, literally, to see how the flooding has receded in order to determine whether they can turn that power back on so people can back -- get back in their homes. So it could be that they're in those shelters for at least another night or two.
NGUYEN: Yes, it sounds like a little bit of a lengthy process.
Kria Sakakeeny, of our affiliate station, WMUR, we thank you for that update.
Your news, money, weather and sports. The time is 5:48 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.
The United States has pledged at least $50 million in aid following the deadly earthquake in South Asia. The death toll from the weakened quake stands at 30,000 in Pakistan and India.
President Bush heads back to the Gulf Coast region today. The president and first lady will meet with local officials tonight before rolling up their sleeves tomorrow. That is when they'll take part in a Habitat for Humanity build in Covington, Louisiana.
In money, auto parts giant Delphi filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to gain major waive concessions from the United Autoworkers Union. The company wanted to cut pay in half to some of its 50,000 workers in the U.S. Delphi will continue operating while they restructure.
In culture, Boy George is back in England after a rough weekend in New York. The singer was arrested when police found a small amount of cocaine in his apartment. He had called police to report a burglary. Boy George's lawyer says the drugs didn't belong to the former Culture Club front man.
And in sports, the Cincinnati Bengals fell from the ranks of the unbeaten after being held in check by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags won 23-20. That leaves the Indianapolis Colts as the only undefeated team in the NFL.
Boy, you must have been sitting pretty yesterday watching all those sports games on. We had football, baseball. The longest baseball game, what, in post season play?
MYERS: Yes. Ever, actually.
NGUYEN: Ever.
MYERS: All the way to the 18th inning, yes.
NGUYEN: My goodness.
MYERS: So it was a pretty amazing game. Then I had Formula One that I put on tape, because it happened in Japan and it was played in the middle of the night.
NGUYEN: Do you ever get enough of sports -- Chad?
MYERS: No one -- you can never -- no, no man can ever do that.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
Betty, back to you.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Chad, we'll be checking in later.
Kabbalah student Madonna is in trouble with her teacher. Still to come on DAYBREAK, we will tell you why her latest album has some rabbis seeing red.
But before we go, we want to wish a good morning to Denver. Take a look at this live shot. You'll be waking up to snow, Denver.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You know our e-mail question today is a really interesting one, should the FBI relax its drug policy? I want to know what people think, because this could be a hot button issue.
MYERS: Relaxing -- thinking about relaxing the drug policy on what they call non-critical or non-on-the-street G-men-type workers, because they can't find enough accountants, computer analysts. They can't find guys that haven't at least tried drugs or marijuana at 15 times, that's the cutoff right now, or within the past three years. So should the FBI release -- relax its drug policy?
And John (ph) from Coppell, Texas, says, I guess it's all right, as long as they didn't inhale.
NGUYEN: You knew that was coming.
MYERS: Kim (ph) from Buffalo says, I feel the policy should be revised to be more strict, not less.
And then from Emma (ph) in Knoxville, relax the policy, absolutely not. Allowing for a few instances of marijuana use in colleges, that's one thing. But after five years, these potential workers are presumably out of college and out of graduate school. Prior drug use charges prevent most people from being a taxi driver or a waiter, why should we hold the FBI to a lesser standard?
Ken (ph) and Pat (ph) from Arkansas, as a past employee of the FBI, my wife and I say no, you should not lower the standards of employment for the FBI. This is not acceptable.
From Kim (ph) in Ontario, how can you expect the FBI agent to infiltrate or even understand the culture of marijuana and hash smokers without firsthand experience? There used to be a saying back in the '70s, a NARC could be easily spotted by the police-issued shoes that he was wearing.
And from Ed (ph), he says no, FBI should not hire anyone who has ever taken drugs, period.
From Curt (ph), says people taking drugs, no matter what capacity, are susceptible to being extorted into committing crimes against America or even spying. Be well, be safe, but my answer is no.
NGUYEN: You know I guess my question about it all is the cutoff point is 15. Where'd they come up with that number? Why 15? If you do it 15 times you're OK, but anything past that you can't get in.
MYERS: And that's kind of what they're saying, they want a person-to-person policy.
NGUYEN: OK, well we'll see how it shakes out.
MYERS: We'll see.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Chad.
Here is a quick look at what is all new in the second hour of DAYBREAK.
Bankruptcy reform, new bankruptcy laws take effect soon. A record number of people are filing before time runs out.
And while weather scientists warn about the rise in dangerous hurricanes, the warnings fall on deaf ears in Washington. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: "Entertainment Headlines" for you this morning.
Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHLEE SIMPSON, SINGER: Well since you've been gone. Well, well...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Is it really her? Is it her voice? Is she singing? Well it's Ashlee Simpson's return engagement on "Saturday Night Live," blonde this time. And Simpson's mouth matched the music, since it was live, after all. Now you remember nearly a year ago Simpson was caught lip-syncing in an embarrassing "SNL" fiasco.
And Madonna's upcoming album dedicated to a Kabbalah rabbi is drawing the ire of other rabbis. One song is about a 16th century Jewish mystic and Kabbalah scholar. The rabbis are upset because Madonna is using the name of the holy rabbi for profit. And R&B star Usher and a few of his friends do their part for Gulf Coast hurricane relief. All proceeds from this show in Atlanta go directly to his Project Restart. It provides housing for displaced hurricane victims.
The next hour of DAYBREAK begins in just one minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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