'More aid needed for Asian quake victims'

The International community must pledge more aid to earthquake-hit Pakistan or more people will die, a Government minister warned tonight.

The Foreign Affairs Department today doubled Ireland’s contribution to relief efforts for the October 8 natural disaster to €10m.

But Minister of State for Development Co-operation and Human Rights, Conor Lenihan tonight warned that the emergency was far from over.

Speaking during a visit to affected regions, he said: “The winter is now only beginning. This will bring a whole new set of challenges for people who have already suffered a great deal and it will make relief efforts all the more difficult.”

The quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale, has so far killed 86,000 people and left 3.5 million people homeless.

Mr Lenihan added: “I very much hope that Ireland’s doubling of funds will send a signal to other donors to honour pledges that have already been made and encourage them to do more.

“There are still a great many lives at risk.”

Within a few hours of the earthquake the Irish Government pledged one million euro towards immediate relief efforts in northern Pakistan and the surrounding regions.

As the casualty figures rose dramatically, Ireland’s contribution was increased to five million euro, placing Ireland as one of the highest donors to the disaster on a per capita basis.

Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds recommended an allocation of extra aid to Pakistan in a report he compiled for the Irish Government after attending the recent Reconstruction Conference in Islamabad.

Mr Lenihan pledged two million euro to be dispersed immediately and a further three million which will be available in the early New Year.

Mr Lenihan assessed progress in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas like Bagh and Muzaffarabad.

He also met agencies responding to the disaster, including the Pakistani government, UN and Red Cross partners and NGOs like Concern, Goal and Trocaire.

The UN has estimated that a total of €3.5bn needed to provide relief to the earthquake-affected regions.