The United Nations and its NGO partners Sunday held a meeting at the Fatima Jinnah Park in Pakistan to remember those who lost their lives, sustained injuries, and lost family members, homes and livelihoods in the massive earthquake of Oct. 8, 2005 that struck northern Pakistan.

"We have gathered here to pay our respects to the departed souls and to renew our commitment to helping those still in need," said UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Vandemoortele, on behalf of the UN and NGO partners.

"We pledge to work together to respond to the needs of vulnerable communities with winter approaching again, and to continue to move forward with recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation challenges," he added

A moment of silence and prayer was observed together with the sharing of experiences of a 16-year-old boy who survived the collapse of the Margalla Towers in Islamabad on the eventful day last year. Later a tree was planted in remembrance of those who lost their lives.

Source: Xinhua