EC donates another $95m for quake victims
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—The European Commission (EC) has proposed an additional amount of at least euro 80 million for the survivors of the Oct 8 earthquake, increasing the total pledge to euro 93.6 million ($111.7 million).
The EC has proposed that 30 million euro be made available to address the immediate needs of survivors and 50 million euro for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
This is in addition to 13.6 million euro emergency humanitarian aid already released, bringing the total proposed to 93.6 million.
“The substantial sum proposed underlines the European Commission’s commitment to Pakistan and to its people,” a statement by the EC said.
The Commission has approached the budgetary authority — Council of Ministers and European Parliament — with this proposal, and has called for an early response to ensure swift help to those still suffering from the terrible effects of the earthquake.
“We are facing an enormous humanitarian catastrophe and with winter just around the corner, a second humanitarian disaster looms for the four million people without a roof and 70,000 injured needing medical attention”, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said.
He said it is a race against the clock for all humanitarian organisations. Aid funding must be significantly increased to speed up the purchase and delivery of tents, blankets and to boost transport capacity of humanitarian agencies.
“Pakistan can count on Europe as a friend and reliable partner not only in this moment of crisis, but also in the long years of hard work to come”, Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
She said with millions now homeless, and all infrastructure destroyed, the challenge of reconstructing lives and livelihoods in the aftermath of this terrible natural disaster will be with us for years.
The Commission is seeking to draw an extra 30 million euro from the emergency reserve of the European Union budget as the humanitarian funds available to the Commission for 2005 have been exhausted, however this requires approval of the budgetary authority.
The Commission said it hopes and expects that the Parliament and Council will recognise the urgency of the situation and move quickly to unblock these additional funds to provide humanitarian assistance for hundreds of thousands of earthquake victims in Pakistan.
The EC said as the humanitarian needs will continue to exist over the next months, further humanitarian funds may be required in due course.
The funds, to be channelled through the Commission’s humanitarian partners — NGOs, Red Cross/Crescent and UN agencies — will be used to meet a wide range of humanitarian needs including shelter, medical support, medicines, household items, hygiene kits, water supplies and sanitation.
The EC is also looking at the possibility of having substantial funds for reconstructing housing, medical facilities, schools, roads, water pipes and all basic infrastructure.
The Commission is proposing 50 million euro be made available for reconstruction. The EC has identified 20 million euro in unspent funds at the end of 2005, which can be allocated to reconstruction in Pakistan.
An additional 10 million euro is being sought from the Emergency Reserve in 2005 while a further 20 million euro should be found in 2006.