Islamabad, Pakistan – Former President Bush had to cancel a planned trip to earthquake-devastated Kashmir on Tuesday because of harsh winter weather that grounded aid flights for a third straight day.
Instead, he toured a mammoth tent camp for survivors on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
The elder Bush is U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s special envoy for the South Asian quake. His mission is to convey the plight of the victims to donors and ensure they make good on their pledges.
“My role will be mainly to encourage people who have pledged money, to get it in,” Bush said at a joint news conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
“I couldn’t go out of town because of the weather, darn it all.”
Nevertheless, the president’s father said he had a good visit.
“I’ve learned a good deal, and now I’ll head back and start working on the mission,” he said.
The Oct. 8 quake killed 87,000 and left millions homeless.
