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ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: Several planes carrying relief goods and machinery for earthquake-stricken areas in Azad Kashmir and Hazara Division, landed at Chaklala Airbase on Monday.
A cargo plane from Russia carrying 31 tons medicines and 40 tons dry fruits landed at the airbase. Another cargo plane from Sweden carrying food, medicines, blankets and tents also arrived. Three C-130 and C-17 planes from Britain and USA brought nine tons of food, machinery and relief equipments. A chartered plane of USAID carrying 528 tents from UAE arrived here.
A cargo aircraft of France carrying 33 tons of food and a Boeing 707 from Karachi carrying 1,250kg ration and miscellaneous goods arrived.
An Indian C-130 plane loaded with 16 tons of blankets also arrived.
A Saudi plane brought 72 tons relief goods, while a C-160 of France carrying a relief truck arrived.
EC: The European Commission (EC) has earmarked 10 million euros more for the victims of earthquake victims in South Asia.
The funds will cover the most urgent needs including food, drinking water, shelter and medical aid. The support is being enhanced through the Commission’s humanitarian Aid department which comes under the responsibilities of Louis Michel, the commissioner for development and Humanitarian Aid.
The first 3.6 million euros, allocated by the Commission on the day after the tragedy, responded to immediate humanitarian needs.
Further evaluation have since been undertaken and the 10 million euros will be spent on provision of food, drinking water, shelters, medical materials/medicines, hygriene kits, kitchen utensils, warm clotting, blankets, shoes and psychosocial support for the children.
JAPAN: An exchange of notes was signed on Monday between Japanese Ambassador Nobuaki Tanaka and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Division Hina Rabbani Khar regarding a grant of $20 million that Japan has offered for the rehabilitation of the affected people in the quake-hit areas.
Of the total amount, $12 million is cash grant to Pakistan directly and $8 million will be disbursed to the UN in response to its flash appeal.
ITALY: Italian ambassador Roberto Mazzotta handed over a huge quantity of medicines to State Minister Dr Shahzad Wasim at the Chaklala air base on Sunday and said his country will provide a field hospital to the quake-victims.
The ambassador said the hospital will have a facility of dealing with 500 patients.
He said a 30-member Italian rescue-team is already providing assistance to the victims, besides providing relief goods to affected areas.
