The government of Pakistan today awarded the
‘Sitara-i-Eisaar’ (Star of Sacrifice) to IOM in
recognition of untiring services rendered during relief operations
in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and NWFP following the October
2005 earthquake.



Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf presented the award to
Hassan Abdel Moneim Mostafa, IOM Regional Representative for West
and Central Asia, on behalf of the organization at a high-level
investiture ceremony at President House in Islamabad.



Categorized as Sitara-i-Eisaar, Tamgha-i-Eisaar (Medal of
Sacrifice) and Earthquake Response Certificates, the awards were
given to humanitarian organizations and individuals for their
meritorious relief services in the quake zone.



IOM immediately responded to the urgent needs for humanitarian
assistance following the devastating earthquake, focusing on
medical evacuations, delivery of shelter and non-food items and
provision of transport assistance.



“Receiving this prestigious award from the government of
Pakistan is an honour for all IOM colleagues,” said Hassan
Abdel Moneim Mostafa. “Not only does it provide national
recognition for what we do, but it is also a direct tribute to our
Mission Statement and leadership. We will continue serving the
Pakistani people, particularly those affected by the
earthquake.”



IOM’s commitment to working on the long-term reconstruction
efforts was conveyed by Director General Brunson McKinley who met
government leaders during his visit to Islamabad in November 2005.




As the agency coordinating the Inter Agency Standing Committee
Emergency Shelter Cluster (ESC), IOM played a key role in
successfully bringing together the international community and the
government of Pakistan to provide shelter assistance to victims of
the quake.



After having set up five humanitarian hubs in Bagh, Balakot,
Batagram, Mansehra and Muzaffarabad, IOM, UN agencies,
international and local NGOs, and the government of Pakistan
delivered 520,102 tents, over 5 million corrugated galvanized iron
(CGI) sheets, 6.4 million blankets, 2.2 million tarpaulins/plastic
sheets and hundreds of tonnes of non-food items such as tools,
stoves, mattresses and kitchen sets. The shelter cluster also built
549,872 temporary shelters.



Operation Winter Race, launched by IOM to save the lives of people
still living in high altitude throughout the winter and who were
affected by the earthquake, ensured that more lives were not lost.
The earthquake claimed at least 80,000 lives and injured 120,000
people, over 73,000 of them critically.



Since 20 March 2006, IOM has assisted more than 14,000 families in
returning to their places of origin from temporary settlements in
quake-affected areas.



For more information, please contact:



Saleem Rehmat

IOM Islamabad

Tel.: +92.300.8565967

E-mail: "mailto:srehmat@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">srehmat@iom.int