Australia gives another $4m quake aid

SYDNEY—The additional money, announced on Saturday by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, brings Australia’s total aid to quake relief to $14.1 million.
Two weeks after the shattering earthquake killed at least 50,000 people, rescuers are still trying to reach untold numbers of survivors as winter approaches in the rugged hills of northern Pakistan.
Downer said the aid, through the Australian Agency for International Development, would go to international organisations and Australian non-government organisations (NGOs).
He said $2 million to the World Food Program would source more than 2750 tonnes of high-protein pulses to help meet food shortages.
Australian NGOs with programs in the region able to respond immediately would be provided with up to $1 million, he said.
Australia would also contribute $500,000 to the World Health Organisation for emergency health kits for families and communities.
Blankets and water purification tablets worth $500,000 from Australia will be sent to Pakistan and additional blankets and medical items have been ordered.
“We are also investigating the possibility of sending Australian-sourced food to Pakistan,” Downer said.
Australia had also deployed a critical infrastructure assessment mission to Pakistan to help the Pakistan Government assess damage to critical infrastructure and to plan for the future, he said.—INP