ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker on Sunday said that the United States government and the people of his country were one with the people of Pakistan to help them rebuild a better life in quake-hit areas.

He was talking to PTV on the occasion of the first anniversary of the October 8 earthquake.

The envoy said Pakistan’s friends from around the world, especially in the US, pledged solidarity with Pakistan as the country tried to recover from the earthquake’s effects.

He said within 48 hours of the earthquake, about 20 US military helicopters were flying relief missions over the earthquake areas.

He said that the helicopters had delivered 40,000 tonnes of food items besides helping in evacuating casualties from remote and inaccessible areas.

Referring to the quake’s commemoration, he said it was time to mourn with the people of Pakistan who had lost so many innocent lives, adding it was also time to look ahead.

He said that the US government and major corporations had pledged a total of $510million, adding that ordinary American people had also donated another $100 million.

During the recent visit to the US, he said, President George W. Bush and President Gen Pervez Musharraf had discussed international response and US efforts after the earthquake, adding that President Musharraf had on one occasion acknowledged the US humanitarian efforts.

He said that the US had launched major reconstruction and recovery efforts in Pakistan and over $200 million of the US pledge would go to reconstruction.

“On (the occasion of) the anniversary of the earthquake, US would dedicate first of many schools that would be built throughout the earthquake areas alongwith health clinics”, he added.

He said the US helicopters would return next week to help fly reconstruction supplies in some remote areas.—APP