Japan, Egypt, Turkey, Ireland, India, US offer relief support

ISLAMABAD—Japan, Turkey and Egypt as well as International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent and International Committee of Red Cross have extended all out support to Pakistan Red Crescent Society for the earth quake affectees. These offers were extended to PRCS Chairman Jahan Dad Khan in the telephonic message.
Jahan Dad Khan thanked them for their supportive gesture and told them that PRCS has set up a control room to keep the masses update about the earthquake losses and information all over the country.
He said Pakistan Red Crescent Society ambulances, volunteers are busy in the rescue operation in Islamabad and all our the country.
PRCS chairman visited the affected area and directed the officials to spare no effort in providing relief to the affectees. He also visited PRCS blood bank set up at the spot.
He is personally monitoring the rescue operation and an emergency control room has also been set up at the destroyed Margalla Tower. Talking to journalists, Jahan Dad said that PRCS Director Operation would be leaving for NWFP to assess the losses where as AJK State Branch has been directed to speed up the assessment work so that the relief items can be sent to the affectees.
The Irish government on Saturday pledged an initial one million euros (1.2 million dollars) to assist with immediate needs to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake in Pakistan.
Development Co-operation Minister Conor Lenihan said the earthquake appeared to have had “devastating consequences” and there were initial needs for food, shelter and other basic requirements.
“Details in relation to casualty figures are still emerging, but initial estimates are approximately 1,000 people have lost their lives,” Lenihan said in a statement.
“Lives have also been lost in India and Afghanistan. Many people will have been left homeless and many others may still be missing and trapped in collapsed buildings”.
The initial funding will be available for the Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations.
“Funding will also be provided if necessary for co-ordination of the humanitarian effort through the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and for other needs as they become clearer,” Lenihan said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has offered to help Pakistan with rescue and relief operations in the wake of Saturday’s earthquake, which also devastated parts of Indian occupied Kashmir.
“While parts of India have also suffered from this unexpected natural disaster, we are prepared to extend any assistance with rescue and relief which you may deem appropriate,” Singh said in a message to President Pervez Musharraf.
Singh expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the disaster. Pakistani and Indian officials confirmed more than 1,000 deaths, but military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said the toll would rise dramatically.
Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh also wrote to Khurshid Kasuri to convey his sympathies, a government statement said.
“Please do not hesitate to indicate to us in whatever way we can be of some assistance both for rescue and relief in the affected areas,” he said.
The US government has expressed its grief and condolences over reports of massive loss of life and property in the wake of 7.6 magnitude earthquake hitting Pakistan, Afghanistan and South Asian region Saturday morning.
Sources said, the US administration has also offered to extend necessary help in the rescue and relief work.—Agencies