Riyadh pledges $133 million in quake aid
Foreign Desk Report

RIYADH (Saudi Arabia)—Saudi Arabia on Saturday pledged $133 million to help rebuild infrastructure destroyed in the Pakistan earthquake.
King Abdullah issued a royal decree saying the money will be allocated to rebuild schools, buildings, roads and hospitals “in the Islamic republic of Pakistan”.
Two days later, a Saudi plane left for Pakistan carrying 70 tons of relief for the victims of the South Asian earthquake.
Neighboring Kuwait has already promised $100 million aid to quake relief efforts and the United Arab Emirates announced it would send $150 million. Fellow Gulf state Qatar has also send assistance.
About 30 countries have pledged aid, including longtime rival India and Turkey, Britain, China, Russia, France, Japan and the United States.
International aid supplies for the earthquake affectees continue to reach Pakistan from various countries. A Cuban airplane landed at the Chaklala airbase last night with medicine and orthopedic, surgeons, psychologist and a neurologist.
Japan’s two airplanes brought in one hundred Japanese workers to take part in the relief operation, along with eight thousand and five hundred tents, medicines and generators. Relief aid from French Red Cross also reached including a doctor, six paramedical staff and a field hospital.
Japan ambassador to Islamabad donated blankets for the earthquake victims, at the relief camp of Pakistan television in Islamabad. These blankets will be transported to the affected areas through the Red Crescent Society.
Talking to newsmen Japanese ambassador said his country was taking all possible steps in providing every kind of technical and financial assistance for the quake victims.
A multi-national company BPPL has also announced donation of $ 100,000 million assistance for the earthquake affectees. The aid would be sent to the deserving people through the Red Crescent society and UNICEF. The company has also announced to contribute two hundred thousand dollars to the President’s relief fund.