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Home | The Socialist 13 - 20 October 2005 | Join the Socialist Party Profiteering out of people's miseryTHE MOST disgusting thing in this terrible situation is the profiteering out of people's misery that is going on. This fills people with rage. No normal transport is running between the federal capital city, Islamabad, and Bagh. The usual fare is Rs120.00 (£1.20). However, because people are desperate to try to get to their home villages, vehicles are available for hire. But a single fare now costs between Rs600-800 (£6-£8). This represents a 600% increase in costs! A representative of the Edi Foundation, which provides ambulance and emergency medical aid, was interviewed on television and he said Edi managed to get its two helicopters operational in the first day of the earthquake, while the army generals dragged their feet over the question of providing military helicopters for emergency medical use. In the interview, he ironically attacked the big pharmaceutical companies when he said, "We know the drug companies are desperate to help the injured but we don't need their normal type of 'aid' - which are drugs whose expiry date has gone. We need drugs which can be used for a few months".
Home | The Socialist 13 - 20 October 2005 | Join the Socialist Party |
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