ISLAMABAD: The United Nations believes that opening of the Line of Control at five designated points could help in augmenting relief supplies to the earthquake-hit in the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

U.N. pleased

Jan Vandemoortele, U.N. Resident Coordinator for Emergency Relief told journalists here that ``we were under the impression that the points would be only for pedestrian crossings. We are very pleased to note that truckloads of relief material are coming in through these points. It is of tremendous help in overcoming the logistical nightmare of reaching the cut-off areas."

The official said that besides helping in disbursement of relief, the opening of the border points would also have a positive impact on international funding. Pakistan is hosting on November 19 an international conference of donors to mobilise money for reconstruction.

Asked if the U.N. has any plans to route its supplies through LoC points, he said: ``Both the countries have to coordinate in this regard. Keeping open the points without any time-frame is a very positive development.''

``Hopefully this is the beginning of a new wave of negotiations between India and Pakistan that would definitely improve the effort of reconstruction,'' he said.

Asked about local media reports on involvement of the U.N. and other international organisations in relief efforts along with the militant outfits, he said the U.N. worked only with `genuine' local and international non-governmental organisations. ``This is their claim and not a fact," he said.

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