Chilean Government
Asks Public To Give Way To Aid Delivery
SANTIAGO - The Chilean government on
Thursday urged people to avoid traveling to
the earthquake-affected southern and central
region of the country to ensure the
transport of aid supplies over land.
Environment Minister Ana Lya Uriarte urged
people to deliver their aid through
institutions in charge of aid distribution
and not to travel to the affected regions
themselves.
"Very few sectors have water and electricity
supply at the moment. Besides, there is no
regular supply of food, so the capacity of
these regions is very low to host people
from outside," Uriarte said.
Marcelo Avalos, mayor of Carabineros, said
priority will be given Thursday through
Monday to the transportation of food and
other relief supplies.
Avalos said it was understandable that the
people in Santiago want to travel to the
south to see their relatives, but if they do
so they could jam the roads and consequently
hamper the efforts to get aid to the most
needy.
Meanwhile, a military commander advised
people bent on going to the affected areas
to take with them enough food, fuel and
other supplies.
The magnitude-8.8 earthquake on Saturday and
subsequent tsunami ravaged towns and cities
along a 700-km stretch of Chile's Pacific
coast, killing more than 800 people. Downed
bridges and damaged or debris-strewn
highways made transit difficult in many
areas. |
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