Donations from Kuwait, UAE and US
A statement issued by the embassy said the devastating earthquake has inflicted colossal damage to life and property and appealed to the Pakistani community in Kuwait, NGOs, philanthropists, friends and well-wishers to donate to the “President Relief Fund”.
Anwar Iqbal reports from Washington: The US pledged up to $50 million in relief on Monday while eight American military helicopters arrived in Islamabad with provisions.
Hours after the Pakistan Embassy briefed President Bush on the situation in affected areas, the White House announced that it was making an “initial contribution” of up to $50 million for relief and reconstruction.
Noting that the destruction and loss of life in Pakistan was “massive,” a White House spokesman said the US was “responding rapidly and robustly” to a request of help from President Pervez Musharraf who spoke with President Bush on Sunday.
The US Department of Defence was also providing additional assistance and has made available its “capabilities” to the government of Pakistan, the White House said.
“Pakistan’s initial request includes emergency shelter, food, water and medical supplies, transportation assets, and emergency management personnel,” said the spokesman, adding that the US will continue to coordinate with the government of Pakistan to assess further needs.
The White House urged American citizens who want to make private contributions to assist the victims of this disaster, to contact the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org or the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at www.ifrc.org.
Arshad Sharif adds from London: Prime Minister Tony Blair had called President Pervez Musharraf to express condolences over the death and destruction caused by the earthquake and committed assistance of 1 million pounds sterling, a spokesman for the prime minister told journalists here on Monday. Officials said the British government and private citizens have raised nearly seven million pounds for the quake victims.
More than three million pounds were collected in mosques throughout Britain on Sunday, according to Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain. Some 2.9 million pounds were also raised by Muslim Aid, Islamic Relief, Christian Aid and the British branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The prime minister said: “We are immensely proud of our close ties to Pakistan, made even closer by the large population of British citizens, who trace their origins to the Kashmir region. Such ties make the growing numbers of casualties even harder to bear.”
Agencies add: Australia has pledged A$5.5 million ($4.2 million) for victims of the earthquake, up from an initial A$500,000 in emergency relief promised at the weekend.
Canada has offered 100,000 Canadian dollars ($85,000) to the Red Cross relief effort “for early needs assessement”. “Canada stands ready to provide further assistance depending on the needs identified,” Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said in a statement.
Japan has sent a second disaster relief team to Pakistan to join efforts to treat victims of the earthquake. Twenty-one doctors and other medical staff left Japan to aid rescue efforts, Japan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Philippines is to send a small team of rescuers to help search and recovery efforts, the chair of the local Red Cross said. The team will be made up of 14 Philippine Red Cross personnel.
Russia on Monday sent a cargo plane carrying tents, beds, blankets and other bedding for victims of earthquake, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, regarded as Asia’s richest man, has donated $500,000 to help relief efforts in Pakistan, a statement said on Monday.