05 March 2004	Friday	13 Muharram 1425

ISLAMABAD, March 4: US Ambassador Nancy Powell on Thursday announced a $50,000 grant assistance for the earthquake victims of Mansehra and Batagram.

"We are very concerned about the health and welfare of the hundreds of families whose homes have been damaged by the earthquake in northern Pakistan and we hope that the assistance will help these people," she said during the grant signing ceremony with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

Ambassador Powell signed the grant on behalf of the US government while the AKDN was represented by Munir Merali. Acting USAID director Lawrence Hardy accompanied the ambassador.

At least 24 people were killed and 33 injured in the February 14 earthquake, which also destroyed 103 houses and partially damaged 408 others. Many roads leading to the affected areas were also blocked due to landsliding.

Mr Merali said the grant assistance was in coordination with the efforts of the UN in different developing countries. "It is unfortunate that areas like Mansehra and Battagram are earth quake prone," he said, adding that it was very gratifying to have partners like the US government in the relief operations.

This is the second time within five months that the US government has provided emergency disaster assistance. In November, the US embassy had provided $50,000 in disaster assistance to help the flood victims in rural Balochistan and Sindh.