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| October 20, 2005 | Thursday | Ramzan 15, 1426 |
Nato to upgrade quake relief
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Nato has decided in principle to upgrade the existing relief assistance and begin a major relief operation in Pakistan that would see it ferrying supplies and personnel to the earthquake-stricken parts of the country.
Nato had last week started sorties to deliver tons of relief aid from Europe to Pakistan. Besides, relief goods are also being transported through sea. This latest initiative would be in addition to it.
German Ambassador Dr Guntar Mulack, speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, said a final decision is expected later this week.
Nato leaders are expected to decide by Friday on the level of new help to be offered to Pakistan.
Dr Mulack said the final shape of the relief operation depends on Pakistan’s response to Nato’s offer.
Islamabad has so far indicated to the international community that its priorities are getting helicopters and tents that could protect from the cold weather.
The ambassador termed it as a positive decision by Nato to work on the ground and added that putting the whole support on the Nato platform may make the relief efforts more effective.
The operation may continue for up to 90 days and may involve about 18 C-130 cargo planes from the Nato Response Force.
Some 47,733 people are known to have died in the October 8 earthquake and 3 million more are believed to be homeless. The earthquake flattened entire villages in the region.
Speaking about his country’s contribution towards quake relief efforts, Dr Mulack said Germany has so far allocated 15.6 Euros of which 5 million Euros were donated by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the German Army and Pakistani, German and international implementing agencies.
The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has also allocated 10.6 million Euros for rehabilitation measures. Moreover, Germany has committed 3.25 million Euros to the UN Flash Appeal. Germany has also contributed 20 per cent to the donations made by the European Union.
The German ambassador said negotiations between Pakistan and Germany next month would determine Germany’s share in the rehabilitation efforts.
He set aside the rehabilitation estimates being given by different quarters saying that it was too pre-mature to give such estimates.
The government has said that it estimates the rehabilitation to cost more than US$ 5 million.
UNHCR: The first Nato plane carrying 9 tons of tents and blankets from the UNHCR is expected to arrive at the Chaklala airport on Wednesday. This is the first Nato flight from Incirlik, Turkey to Islamabad carrying relief supplies for those affected by the earthquake.
Additional C-130 cargo aircraft from France, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom have been deployed to Incirlik and will begin to arrive tomorrow in Islamabad, with more expected soon.
The airlift will comprise large quantities of tents, blankets and stoves donated by the UNHCR.
The equipment is being moved by the Turkish authorities by road from their warehouse in Iskenderun and being palletized at the Incirclik air base.
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