Wednesday, January 4 2006 15:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Muzaffarabad: At least five people have died of cold-related diseases since heavy snow and rain started lashing quake-hit Pakistan last week, a World Health Organization official said today (Jan 04, 2006).

Khalif Bile, acting country director for WHO, said the rate of acute respiratory infections among some of the 3.5 million people left homeless by the quake had gone up by as much as 19 per cent, mostly among children, in the past week. He said that five or six deaths have been reported since last week.

"There could be a further increase in the coming days. We need to keep children warm by heating, warm clothes and giving them sufficient food," he told sources.

"Our main concern is to prevent any outbreak of diseases and save lives so that there is no other disaster after the earthquake in the form of people, especially children, dying of cold," he said.

UN official Zulifquar Wasim said helicopter relief flights resumed today after being grounded for three days by bad weather. But forecasters said rain and snow would continue in the north and Kashmir for at least three more days.