Grief shared by the World as aid pours in for quake hit South Asia

Grief shared by the World as aid pours in for quake hit South Asia

Leaders from across the globe expressed extreme grief over the disastrous earthquake that wreaked havoc in parts of South Asia on Saturday. The quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale is believed to have already claimed over 30,000 lives and the number is rising. Pakistan has been the worst hit with the majority of casualties being reported over here. Parts of North India and Afghanistan were also affected.

Rescue experts, medical assistance and other kinds of aid have already been dispatched to South Asia as the whole world unites to help out the quake victims in whatever way possible.

Japan, the US and the EU were among the first nations to come forward for help. Japanese Foreign Ministry informed that Tokyo has sent a 50-member emergency relief team to Pakistan comprising of the police, disaster management experts and coast guard specialists who have the experience of dealing with such deadly disasters in their hometown. The Japanese Red Cross is also sending four medical specialists to Islamabad to examine the amount of the devastation.

Meanwhile, the UK, which houses a big number of South Asians in its population, revealed that it would send immediate aid of US $176,000 to the Pakistani authorities. The British Muslim charities have also decided to join in with financial assistance of thousands of pounds.

After learning of the calamity, the European nations too were quick to respond. The EU decided to offer 3 million euros (US$3.6 million) as emergency relief.

Even the quake prone nations like France, Turkey have joined in to help with their rescue teams in this hour of need. Paris chipped in sending sniffer dogs and cutting gear, the Irish government contributed 1 million while Berlin donated 50,000 euros via its embassy in Islamabad.

Sponsors

Apart from assembling an expert team for the relief and rescue, US President George W. Bush informed that they would also contribute monetarily with US$100,000. Expressing sorrow over the occurrence, Bush said that they would provide any type of assistance needed in the days to come. He further informed that eight helicopters were being sent to Pakistan as per the Pakistani President's special request for making assistance available to the remote regions which are otherwise inaccessible.

Australia added their A$380,000 for rescue and medical assistance. A team of police officers were also dispatched from Abu Dhabi.

Furthermore, the public in Britain, the US, Australia and other Nations have started to donate via telephone and the internet to charities such as the Red Cross who have already begun collecting for the victims families and homeless survivors. Some of these charities are linked below.

Whilst sending a UN team to Islamabad, UN chief Kofi Annan said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation.

The World Bank has decided to donate 20 million dollars and the Asian Development Bank 10.

Pope Benedict XVI expressed his deep condolences to all those grieving from the quake, praying for the departed souls to rest peacefully in his angelus message at St. Peter's Square.

Queen Elizabeth also joined in offering her sympathies to the ones affected.

U.N. International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) executive director Ann Veneman believes that since half of the populace of the quake-hit regions of Pakistan consists of children, they would be susceptible to many kinds of illness. As a precaution, UNICEF has already started transporting blankets, clothes, tents etc to the quake-hit regions.

India, who itself suffered though not to the extent of its neighbours, also decided to offer help. An Indian Foreign Ministry official said the two countries would stay in touch constantly and India would arrange for assistance whenever asked for.

Earlier on Sunday, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made an urgent plea for international aid after the catastrophic earthquake struck Pakistan.

Among the other nations coming forward for help were China, Spain, Iran, Syria, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines Greece, Switzerland, South Africa and many others.