Turkey pledges US $150 million for Pakistan quake relief
By KB Khan - PakistanTimes.net AJK Special Correspondent
BAGH (AJK): Turkeyââ¬â¢s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged US $150 million in aid, the biggest donation yet by one nation for Pakistan quake relief, an official said on Friday.
The pledge comes a day after the United Nations urged the world to do more to help the millions of survivors of the Oct. 8 earthquake that killed tens of thousands in Pakistan.
Turkey is giving a total of $150 million in aid - US$100 million in financial assistance, and another US$50 million in relief goods, said Javed Malik, the spokesman for Pakistanââ¬â¢s Prime Minister.
The next biggest single donor so far is Saudi Arabia with US $131 million.
Erdogan visits AJK
Erdogan on Friday became the first foreign leader to visit the quake zone. He went to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir with Pakistanââ¬â¢s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
After viewing the destruction by helicopter, he visited a 50-bed field hospital set up by the Turkish relief agency, and met with injured patients. More than 300 have been treated.
ââ¬ÅWe have come here to cooperate with you, to help you in difficult times. We are proud of our friendship with Pakistan. We will do whatever is possible to assist you in this crisis. We will remain here as long as you need us,ââ¬Â Erdogan told reporters.
At the same time, the Turkish Prime Minister called on the world to prepare for disasters the way it does for wars as he visited earthquake survivors in ravaged Azad Kashmir.
"My wish is this -- the world is using resources for armaments, they should also put aside resources for such disasters," Erdogan said.
Erdogan, whose country has pledged 150 million dollars in aid to Pakistan, became the first foreign government leader to tour the Himalayan region since an earthquake hit it on October-8 that killed more than 50,000 people.
Erdogan, said Turkey, which was one of the first countries to send rescue teams after the disaster, was committed to long-term help.
"We should not stop in the initial help. We have to fulfill our humanitarian duties from the short term to the long term, from infrastructure to housing," Erdogan said.
Erdogan, dressed in a suit with an open collar, toured Turkish hospital tents in Muzaffarabad where Turkish volunteers greeted him and some patients presented him with flowers.
Turkish PM calls on Musharraf
Later, the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Friday and expressed his deep grief and sorrow over what is named Killer mountain tsunami that hit Upper Pakistan on October-8.
During the meeting wherein the post quake situation was discussed at length, the Prime Minster assured the President of Pakistan every possible help to share burden of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the quake survivors and destroyed areas.
The President suggested to Mr Erdogan to send Turkish expert teams to the quake hit areas of Pakistan.●
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Musharraf said, having friends like Turkey, Pakistan can pass any bad times without difficulties.
By KB Khan - PakistanTimes.net AJK Special Correspondent
BAGH (AJK): Turkeyââ¬â¢s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged US $150 million in aid, the biggest donation yet by one nation for Pakistan quake relief, an official said on Friday.
The pledge comes a day after the United Nations urged the world to do more to help the millions of survivors of the Oct. 8 earthquake that killed tens of thousands in Pakistan.
Turkey is giving a total of $150 million in aid - US$100 million in financial assistance, and another US$50 million in relief goods, said Javed Malik, the spokesman for Pakistanââ¬â¢s Prime Minister.
The next biggest single donor so far is Saudi Arabia with US $131 million.
Erdogan visits AJK
Erdogan on Friday became the first foreign leader to visit the quake zone. He went to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir with Pakistanââ¬â¢s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
After viewing the destruction by helicopter, he visited a 50-bed field hospital set up by the Turkish relief agency, and met with injured patients. More than 300 have been treated.
ââ¬ÅWe have come here to cooperate with you, to help you in difficult times. We are proud of our friendship with Pakistan. We will do whatever is possible to assist you in this crisis. We will remain here as long as you need us,ââ¬Â Erdogan told reporters.
At the same time, the Turkish Prime Minister called on the world to prepare for disasters the way it does for wars as he visited earthquake survivors in ravaged Azad Kashmir.
"My wish is this -- the world is using resources for armaments, they should also put aside resources for such disasters," Erdogan said.
Erdogan, whose country has pledged 150 million dollars in aid to Pakistan, became the first foreign government leader to tour the Himalayan region since an earthquake hit it on October-8 that killed more than 50,000 people.
Erdogan, said Turkey, which was one of the first countries to send rescue teams after the disaster, was committed to long-term help.
"We should not stop in the initial help. We have to fulfill our humanitarian duties from the short term to the long term, from infrastructure to housing," Erdogan said.
Erdogan, dressed in a suit with an open collar, toured Turkish hospital tents in Muzaffarabad where Turkish volunteers greeted him and some patients presented him with flowers.
Turkish PM calls on Musharraf
Later, the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Friday and expressed his deep grief and sorrow over what is named Killer mountain tsunami that hit Upper Pakistan on October-8.
During the meeting wherein the post quake situation was discussed at length, the Prime Minster assured the President of Pakistan every possible help to share burden of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the quake survivors and destroyed areas.
The President suggested to Mr Erdogan to send Turkish expert teams to the quake hit areas of Pakistan.●
---
Musharraf said, having friends like Turkey, Pakistan can pass any bad times without difficulties.
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