China Donates More To Quake-hit Pakistan

[WebMaster]

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China donates more to quake-hit Pakistan

The Chinese government on Thursday donated one million US dollars in cash to the Government of Pakistan for earthquake relief.

At a signing ceremony held in Islamahere for the handing over of the cheque, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chunxiang said China is willing to make utmost efforts to help Pakistan overcome the difficulties.

Signing the cheque on behalf of the Chinese Government, Zhang expressed confidence that the people of Pakistan, under the leadership of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and with the help from the international community, are sure to win this battle over the natural disaster and rebuild their homes soon.

Zhang said the leaders, the government and the people of China have been gravely concerned over this severe disaster ever since the massive earthquake hit Pakistan last Saturday.

The Chinese Government has pledged immediately after the earthquake 6.2 million US dollars of humanitarian aid to Pakistan, including cash and aid supplies, said Zhang.

The Chinese Government has also dispatched a 49-member rescue team to quake-hit areas and four batches of aid supplies have reached on chartered flights to Pakistan with more to come, he added.

Zhang and Ejaz Rahim, secretary of the Cabinet Division, signed on behalf of their respective Governments.

Also at the ceremony, Zhang, on behalf of Red Cross Society of China, handed over a cheque of 100,000 US dollars to Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake has claimed a confirmed death toll of more than 25,000 in Pakistan so far.

Source: Xinhua

[Owais]

only $1m!!
thats very low!! :huh:

[WebMaster]

Originally posted by Owais@Oct 14 2005, 01:41 PM
only $1m!!
thats very low!! :huh:

Quoted post

The Chinese Government has pledged immediately after the earthquake 6.2 million US dollars of humanitarian aid to Pakistan, including cash and aid supplies, said Zhang.

Read the article. :LOLANI:

[Owais]

Originally posted by Web Master@Oct 15 2005, 04:13 AM
The Chinese Government has pledged immediately after the earthquake 6.2 million US dollars of humanitarian aid to Pakistan, including cash and aid supplies, said Zhang.

Read the article. :LOLANI:

Quoted post

lol
still too low as compare 2 USA n KSA! :stupid:

[Thunder]

Originally posted by Owais@Oct 17 2005, 02:04 AM
lol
still too low as compare 2 USA n KSA! :stupid:

Quoted post

It's always better then nothing :ChinaFlag: :ChinaFlag:

[WebMaster]

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US military to increase humanitarian aid to Pakistan
Pakistan Times Staff Report

WASHINGTON (US): The U.S. military is stepping up humanitarian aid to quake-hit Pakistan as the extent of the calamity unfolds, with relief workers, braving inclement weather, making their way to the inaccessible parts of the country.

President George W. Bush has offered an initial $50 million in U.S. emergency aid to Pakistan, a close American ally in the global war on terrorism.

US military officials said that American military aircraft based in Afghanistan have provided more than 100,000 pounds of relief supplies in two days of missions.

Eight Army helicopter crews deployed from Germany and at least two Air Force C-17 transport planes have been ferrying food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Base to a Pakistani military airfield since Monday.

CH-47 Chinooks

Five CH-47 Chinooks and three UH-60 Black Hawks are flying the humanitarian missions, officials have said. In total, the United States expects to send at least 25 to 30 helicopters to Pakistan to assist with earthquake relief efforts, Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita said in Washington.

At least one U.S. military Chinook helicopter was unable to reach the quake zone because of a rainstorm. "We had a storm blow into the area on some of the mountain passes that you have to go through to get into the remote area, and they had to come back and land due to the weather", U.S. military spokesman Col. James Yonts said.

Other C-17s with more support and equipment were scheduled to arrive today. DiRita said some of the additional helicopters would come from Afghanistan and Bahrain, but military officials said the earthquake recovery efforts would have no impact on current combat operations.

U.S. military officials are "identifying and will deploy additional capabilities to assist the State Department and affected countries, including helicopters, engineering and heavy lift capabilities, medical support and humanitarian assistance," the Pentagon said.

Total Focus

"Our total focus is on relieving the suffering in Pakistan, help them stabilize and, in the longer term, recover", said Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan commander.

Eikenberry had been sent to Islamabad to coordinate the beginning of the relief efforts. He has since returned to Afghanistan, officials said. Upon Eikenberry's return, the Pentagon announced Navy Rear Adm. Michael Lefever as the head of a "humanitarian coordination center" in Pakistan.

Lefever is tasked with coordinating between the Pakistani government, the Pentagon, the State Department, and other U.S. agencies providing aid.

The United States was also using reconnaissance aircraft, including unmanned drones, to survey damage from the quake, Di Rita said in Washington.

The Pentagon named U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael Lefever to head a disaster-assistance center in Islamabad and coordinate military relief efforts.

Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, commander of U.S. forces in neighboring Afghanistan, visited Islamabad to oversee the initial U.S. military-assistance response but was returning to Kabul to resume his responsibilities in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command said.

Trucks and Bulldozers

The United States also would try to get trucks and bulldozers into Pakistan to help, Di Rita said. He said that because Pakistan's airports are so busy after the quake, the United States was operating some of its aircraft out of Bagram air base in Afghanistan.

State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said the government aid agency, USAID, had delivered plastic sheeting, blankets and water containers for up to 2,500 families and a team in Pakistan would assess needs for more aid. He said that the meals delivered were halal.

Briefing reporters in Washington, Ereli said; Looking ahead to the next steps and what we're hoping to accomplish in the near future, USAID (US Agency for International Development) is preparing additional relief commodity shipments", he said.

"These will include more shelter, more blankets, more tents and probably some medical supplies, although the details of those haven't been finalised." Our (disaster management) team will deploy to affected areas. They will do a needs assessment and coordinate provision of follow-on assistance", he added.

"Our military is organising delivery of other assets. There are four additional helicopters on the way."

Earth-moving Equipment

"The military is also working to provide earth-moving equipment and medical facilities to help in relief operations," he said.●