US vows to boost quake relief efforts
25 Chinook helicopters to arrive soon: Abizaid
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—Commander-in-Chief of US Central Command General John P. Abizaid on Sunday said the scope of devastations due to October 8 earthquake in parts of the country are highly significant and not only the US but the international community will continue their support to Pakistan in this trying times.
Addressing a press conference after his visit to the earthquake affected areas of AJK and NWFP, the US Central Command Chief expressed his deep sense of condolence with the families of the victims of the earthquake.
He said Pakistan needs more help as the Pakistan Army has greater and greater knowledge after they had accessed to the devastated areas about the damages and there is lot of need for more assistance in these areas.
“Certainly the US will continue to bring in additional helicopters, medical and engineering supports,” he said adding more helicopters will start coming to Pakistan in a couple of days.
“We are very grateful to have the opportunity to work with Pakistani Armed forces, they are quite professional, but the task ahead for all of us is immense,” Gen. Abizaid said.
Answering a question he said “Yes — sure we are with Pakistan on long term basis. We certainly are not against the people in this region. We are for the people in this region. We are for the moderate people in the region. We are for the good people in this region and if somewhat happens bad in this region we will martial our resources to help”.
“We were here as quickly as we could and we will stay as long as we need to — in order to help. That is clear that a lot more has to be done yet,” Gen. Abizaid said.
He said “we take our priorities from the priorities established by the Pakistan Army. We understand that helicopter support positively needed to continue the relief and rescue operation unhindered”. So, he said, the helicopters are being assembled in Afghanistan and will reach Pakistan soon.
He said the US helicopter support is 30 now and that is pretty successful and medical support is also there besides airlifting of package items which are badly required by the quake affected people including tents.
“We also bringing in engineering support, which is on its way”.
Replying to another question, General Abizaid said, “We have done our support, there is lot more work is to be done, there are a lot of people who need a lot of help, so international community should bring in the equipment as much as they can”.
“It’s got to be long term effort to help a lot of people in need and we are doing what the extent we can,” he said.
The response of the US to this tragedy is very positive and the world should come forward to help Pakistan as people need help, he added.
Online adds: US Central Command Commander General John P. Abizaid has said Pakistan is US trusted friend and it will not be left alone in the hour of crisis.
He said this in a briefing to the journalists Sunday at Chaklala air base on his return from quake affected areas of Muzaffarabad and Balakot. Federal Relief Commissioner Maj Gen Farooq Ahmad Khan, DG ISPR Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan were also present on the occasion.
Earlier Gen Abizaid visited the quake hit areas of Muzaffarabad and Balakot alongwith Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat.
Giving the briefing to the journalists, Gen Abizaid said “I have visited the quake ravaged areas and I feel Pakistan is facing several challenges in the aftermath of quake. At the present moment when buildings and communication system have been damaged in the quake wracked areas, Pakistan army has started relief activities there. Such areas came to notice which are inaccessible but now the rescue teams are reaching there.
He underlined that US was mobilizing all resources to help quake victims in Pakistan. Assistance of all sorts including medical teams, restoration of communication system and engineering related aid and relief goods will be provided to Pakistan.
US will continue to provide assistance to Pakistan on long term basis, he indicated.
Paying tribute to the affected people , he said they demonstrated courage and high velour in this hour of test. US sent its helicopters and troops deployed in Afghanistan to the quake hit areas soon after the quake to help the affectees, he pointed out. They have joined relief efforts with Pakistan army, he added. US will provide more 25 helicopters for relief work, he indicated.
It is a big challenge and we have to work jointly for rehabilitation and reconstruction in quake wracked areas, he stressed.
Earlier federal relief commissioner Maj Gen Farooq Ahmad Khan told the newsmen that about 53000 people have lost life in the quake so far and 75000 people are injured. 75 percent injured have received bone fractures.
Pointing to disaster caused by the quake, he said communication infrastructure has been destroyed in the 25 thousand square kilometer quake stricken area. The international community has appreciated Pakistani nation for the unprecedented courage and sacrifice rendered by it, he added.
He informed US was providing water proof tent and blankets which are urgently needed in the affected areas. He said that relief activities have been stepped up in the quake hit areas and relief goods are being reached out to the far flung areas.