World rushes to aid stricken nations

RESCUE teams and aid pledges poured into Pakistan from around the world yesterday.

“We are rushing against the clock here,” said a spokeswoman for the UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as rescue workers struggled to pull survivors of Saturday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake from the rubble.

An eight-member UN team had begun co-ordinating the relief effort in the hardest hit areas, the spokeswoman said, and teams from Turkey, China, Britain and Germany were on the ground.

The greatest need was for field hospitals, water purification and blankets, she said. “The logistical problems will be big. We are going to need more helicopters, for example.”

The US, expressing gratitude that Pakistan had stepped forward after hurricane Katrina, said it would provide $100,000 in emergency aid funds and also offered military helicopters.

US President George W Bush said: “Thousands of people have died, thousands are wounded, and the US of America wants to help.”

Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were among others dispatching help.

UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) executive director Ann Veneman said children made up half the population of the quake-affected areas and would be vulnerable to hunger, cold, illness and trauma.

UNICEF said it had begun moving blankets, clothing, tents, medical supplies, food for infants and water purification tablets from a Karachi warehouse to quake-hit areas.

The World Bank said it was ready to provide $20 million to Pakistan to deal with damage and the European Commission said it had earmarked an initial €3.6m for medical services, shelter, food, drinking water and sanitation.

China sent a 49-member rescue team including earthquake experts, army engineers as well as health officials and police.

A Japanese disaster relief team of 50 officials landed late yesterday in Islamabad to help rescue operations in the hardest-hit parts of Pakistan, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry official Hisanobu Mochizuki. A medical team will follow today, he said.

The Dutch government offered e1m in aid and a rescue team, while China’s state news agency said the country had sent Pakistan a rescue team with search dogs and equipment and relief materials.

Australia said it had given $379,000 in immediate help to the three countries and British officials said a second search and rescue team had arrived in Pakistan yesterday.

Queen Elizabeth, head of the Commonwealth, of which Pakistan is a member, expressed her “heartfelt sympathy”.

Japan, experienced in dealing with quakes of its own, said it was sending relief workers and $220,600 worth of goods such as blankets and tents.

Turkey, another quake-prone nation, said it had sent two more military planes with doctors, rescuers and aid.

Turkey has warm ties with Pakistan. Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf spent some of his youth in Turkey.

The United Arab Emirates said it had dispatched a police rescue team to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah ordered the immediate transfer of supplies and medical teams.

The Oxfam international charity organisation said one of its teams was on its way to Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, where there had been “massive disruption” and where in some places all of the houses had collapsed.

Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency said the Emergency Ministry was sending 30 rescue workers and four dogs as well as a plane with blankets, bedding and tents. Moscow was among many capitals offering condolences to both India and Pakistan.