US, UK, EU announce aid for quake victims of Pakistan
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Ryan C Crocker Saturday announced that the US would provide $100,000 in emergency relief funds. Agency for International Development to assist communities and individuals affected by the earthquake that struck Pakistan and other areas of South Asia.

“We offer our deepest sympathy to those affected by the earthquake and the families of the victims. We remain deeply concerned for all affected by this disaster,” said the American Ambassador.

“We are pleased to provide support to Pakistan in the relief effort. We recall with gratitude that when Americans needed help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Pakistan stepped forward.”

The US military has offered assistance to their Pakistani counterparts to provide appropriate supplies and assistance for relief efforts. In addition, the Ministry of Interior Air Wing, a joint US-Pakistan program, has also been authorized to provide helicopters for aerial relief support.

The British High Commission has announced an initial contribution of 10 million rupees towards disaster relief following Saturday’s tragic earthquake.

The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw expressed deep concerns for the Pakistani people following the earthquake. He said: “I am very distressed to learn about the effects of the earthquake in Pakistan. My anxieties are all the greater because so many British people of Pakistani heritage come from the area affected or have relatives who live there. “I have already spoken to Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and said Britain stands by during this time of need.

European countries responded swiftly to Saturday’s massive earthquake which hit Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, Indian held Kashmir and Afghanistan, offering aid and funds as well as condolences.
As casualty figures rose from the devastating quake the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said up to three million euros (3.6 million dollars) could be approved within a day if requested by agencies working on the ground.

A spokesman said the commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) was in touch with two organizations, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Netherlands and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about the crisis. “It depends on what these organizations tell us they need,” said the spokesman, Amadeu Altafaj, stressing that the two organizations were chosen because they are already on the ground.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for his part said, “We are offering help to the Pakistani government and are ready to respond to all requests.” In Berlin Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Germany had immediately released 50,000 euros to be made available to Pakistani authorities through Berlin’s embassy in Islamabad.

The German Red Cross would be working with the Pakistani Red Crescent to bring relief to affected areas, and Berlin was in contact with the United Nations with regard to further humanitarian action, he said. Turkey, a frequent victim of earthquakes which have killed many thousands of people, also offered aid to fellow Muslim country Pakistan, Anatolia news agency reported, quoting Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Turkey’s neighbour Greece, which also suffers almost daily tremors, said it was ready to send a team of specialists to the region.

Expressing sympathy and solidarity, the foreign ministry said “Greece intends to contribute to the efforts of search and rescue.”

Elsewhere, French President Jacques Chirac sent a message of support to his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf, his office said. “France is standing by Pakistan in this painful trial,” Chirac added, without specifying any offer of assistance.

President Musharraf received a similar message from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said. More than 1,000 were confirmed dead in the quake, and officials warned the final toll could be far higher.●