International response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake

In the international response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...

many countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations offered relief aid to the affected regions. The aid given was in the form of monetary donations and pledges, as well as relief supplies including food, medical supplies, tents and blankets. Rescue and relief workers were sent from different parts of the world to the region and they brought along rescue equipment, including helicopter

Helicopter

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...

s and rescue dogs

Search and rescue dog

The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. Dedicated handlers and well-trained dogs are required for the use of dogs to be effective in search efforts...

New Approach

The chief architects of the response Jan Vandemoortele, Andrew MacLeod

Andrew MacLeod

Andrew MacLeod is the CEO of the Committee for Melbourne, Foundation Chair of the United Nations Global Compact Principles for Social Investment and a member of the United Nations Expert Group on Responsible Business and Investment in High-Risk Areas...

, General Farooq Khan and General Nadeem Ahmed used an experimental model of coordination for the 'quake response known as 'Cluster Approach' based on a series of recommendations made during a full review of humanitarian operation conducted through 2005. Whilst it was a new and untried method. the 'Cluster Approach' is now used as a model for global disaster management.

Cluster Approach - Official UN site

Africa

- The Tunisian government has sent a C-130 plane with 14 tons of relief supplies, including food, blankets and medical supplies to Pakistan.

Asia

- The Afghan government sent four rescue helicopters from its nascent air force, as well as a fixed-wing plane loaded with four tons of medicine and army medical personnel, to help with disaster relief in the hardest-hit areas of Kashmir. The country also pledged USD 500,000 in aid. The Afghan Red Crescent Society has also announced that it will donate 20 tons of dried food and send teams of medical personnel.
– The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

Hun Sen

Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.He has been the sole leader of the Cambodian People's Party , which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979...

has pledged USD 60,000 dollars in assistance.
- The government of the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

, offered emergency aid worth USD

United States dollar

The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....

6.2 million (PKR

Pakistani rupee

The rupee is the currency of Pakistan. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the State Bank of Pakistan, the central bank of the country. The most commonly used symbol for the rupee is Rs, used on receipts when purchasing goods and services. In Pakistan, the rupee is referred to as the...

370.14 M) to help earthquake victims in Pakistan. A 49-member international rescue team and the first batch of rescue materials were sent to Pakistan on October 9, 2005. USD 1 million in cash was sent out on October 10, 2005. A rescue team with sniffer dogs is now up and running.
- The Government

Government of Hong Kong

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...

of the Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

, has approved a grant of HK$

Hong Kong dollar

The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...

3.5 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to World Vision Hong Kong

World Vision

World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...

to undertake relief projects. The Government has procured and is arranging to air-freight 20 tons of relief supply, including tents and blankets, to Pakistan.
- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...

offers quake assistance to Pakistan. Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners are in touch regarding cooperation in relief work. India has sent 25 tonnes of relief material to Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

including food, blankets and medicine. Big Indian companies such as Infosys

Infosys

Infosys Limited, formerly Infosys Technologies Limited is a global technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is the second largest IT exporter in India with 133,560 employees as of March 2011. It has offices in 33 countries and development centers in India, China,...

have offered aid up to $226,000. On October 12, an Ilyushin-76

Ilyushin Il-76

The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas...

cargo plane ferried across seven truckloads (about 82 ton

Ton

The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...

s) of army medicines, 15,000 blankets and 50 tents and returned to New Delhi. A senior airforce official also stated that they had been asked by the Indian government to be ready to fly out another similar consignment. On October 14, India dispatched the second consignment to relief material to Pakistan, by train through the Wagah Border. The consignment includes 5,000 blankets, 370 tents, 5 tons of plastic sheets and 12 tons of medicine. The third consignment is of medicine and relief material is being readied and will be sent shortly, also by train. India also pledged $25 million as aid to Pakistan.
India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

opened the first of three points at Chakan Da Bagh, in Poonch

Poonch

Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...

, on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for the 2005 Kashmir earthquake

2005 Kashmir earthquake

The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...

relief work. (Rediff)
- Indonesia is sending a C-130 Hercules

C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...

aircraft with a medical team, medicine and various emergency materials to Pakistan. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is also ready to send humanitarian relief and a special team.
- Iran has dispatched foodstuff, blankets, tents and medicine through two aircraft.
- Israel offered aid to Pakistan and India immediately following the earthquake; Pakistan has recently accepted this aid on the condition that the aid be channeled through a third-party organization such as the United Nations. The nature of the aid has not yet been determined.
– Prince Rashid bin Al Hassan

Prince Rashid bin Al Hassan

Prince Rashid bin El Hassan was born on May 20, 1979 in Amman, Jordan. His father is Prince Hassan bin Talal and his mother is Princess Sarvath El Hassan.- Education :* Amman Baccalaureate School* Port Regis School* Harrow School - GCSE...

, chief of the Jordanian Relief Agencies arrived in Pakistan on October 11, bringing with him a 50-bed mobile hospital to be deployed in Rawalakot

Rawalakot

Rawalakot , is a city in Azad Kashmir, and is the capital of Poonch Division and Poonch District. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at an elevation of 1,615 metres ....

.
- Japan is providing experts and equipment for rescue operations. On October 11, Japan pledged a further USD 20 million dollars and stated that it was ready to dispatch dozens of troops and several transport helicopters to aid relief efforts. A statement by the Japanese Defense Ministry clarified on October 12, that they would be sending approximately 290 troops and three helicopters to help with the relief work in Pakistan.
- The Kuwaiti government announced a USD 100 million in aid to Pakistan. Half of the aid package will be offered in the form of relief assistance, while the other half (approximately USD 51 million) will be used to repair damaged infrastructure.
- Malaysia has dispatched a search-and-rescue team to quake-ravaged Pakistan and USD 1 million (MYR

Ringgit

Ringgit mostly refers to the Malaysian ringgit, which is the local currency in Malaysia, but it can also refer to the Brunei dollar or Singapore dollar in the Malay language. The word ringgit was originally used to refer to the serrated edges of Spanish silver dollars widely circulated in the area...

3.8 million) to its government. The Malaysian team comprises 50 men from various agencies and non-governmental organisations, including the National Security Division, Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysian Red Crescent Society and Mercy Malaysia.
– Nepal has offered USD 50,000 dollars in relief to Pakistan.
- In late 2006, a staggering $20 billion development scheme was mooted by Pakistan for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake hit zones in Azad Kashmir. A land use plan for Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...

city had been prepared by Japan International Cooperation Agency

Japan International Cooperation Agency

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan...

.
- A spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry said that the country was also willing to give humanitarian assistance to Pakistan.
- Saudi King Abdullah

Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...

has announced an emergency aid package worth 133 million dollars for Pakistan. As of Oct 15, 2005 this is the largest single donation by any country for Kashmir Earthquake 2005. Earlier, Saudi King Abdullah

Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

ordered the rapid establishment of an airlift of doctors, medicine, tents and emergency supplies to the affected region.
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest contributors to the earthquake relief efforts. The Saudi public has also made a big contribution to helping victims of the earthquake, on the call of Saudi government. The Saudi government went one step further by institutionalizing this assistance in the form of Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake victims (SPAPEV).
- (Main article: Singaporean response to 2005 Kashmir earthquake
Singaporean response to 2005 Kashmir earthquake
In the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake on October 8 in the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir, several rescue and relief operations have been organised in Singapore to assist victims of the disaster....

). Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Lee Hsien Loong

Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....

, on behalf of the people of Singapore, expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims. The Singapore Civil Defence Force

Singapore Civil Defence Force

The Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...

was preparing to dispatch a 44-member Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team

Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team

The Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team is an elite team within the Singapore Civil Defence Force , formed in 1990 to handle complex rescue and fire fighting incidents, such as urban search and rescue; prolonged fire fighting; height and confined space operations; and water rescue.One of the very...

to help Pakistan's relief and rescue operations. Another two medical relief teams were also sent.
- The South Korean government sent USD 500,000 dollars along with blankets, relief food and medical supplies to Pakistan as part of their initial response. A further USD 3 million in aid was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on October 10.
- Turkey is sending 30 aircraft carrying medical teams to Pakistan. Furthermore, on October 20 Turkey announced a relief package of USD $150 million; financial assistance of $100 million and relief goods worth $50 million including 1 million blankets, 50,000 tonnes of flour and 25,000 tonnes of sugar. The Turkish Red Crescent sent 90 health personnel to Pakistan, built tent cities and hospitals. The Turkish Red Crescent has also started building a new tent city that will provide shelter for 70,000 people.
- The total monetary commitment so far is USD 100 million. United Arab Emirates President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has ordered the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid to the region and rescue teams. The Dubai police have also begun to leave for Pakistan.

Europe

- Norway provided some NOK 240 million ($38 million) in aid.
- Poland sent rescue dogs, medics and other disaster specialists
- Belgian Federal Government allocates EUR

Euro

The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...

250,000 (PKR 18 million) and Flemish Government EUR 125,000 (PKR 9 million) for equipment and relief assistance in Pakistan and India. A 5 people strong rescue team has been sent and 22 people of the special B-fast rescue team, departed for the region on October 11, 2005. The main purpose of the B-fast team is to set up a field hospital

Field hospital

A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...

for performing basic operations.
- The prime minister Jiří Paroubek

Jirí Paroubek

Jiří Paroubek is a Czech politician, who served as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 25 April 2005 to 16 August 2006. He was also Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party , but resigned from his position immediately after the result of the 2010 Legislative Election was announced...

announced on TV, that the Czech Republic will provide the victims with CZK

Czech koruna

The Czech koruna or Czech crown has been the currency of the Czech Republic since 8 February 1993 when, together with its Slovak counterpart, it replaced the Czechoslovak koruna at par....

25 million (PKR 61 million).
- The Danish Government initially granted DKK

Danish krone

The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...

10 million (PKR 97 million) in aid, but has since offered two additional grants of DKK 20 million each, making the total aid DKK 50 million (PKR 485 million).
- Estonia sent a 18-member medical disaster relief team to the northern Pakistan city Batagram

Batagram

Battagram is the capital city of Battagram District in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°41'N 73°1'E and has an altitude of 1038 metres .-Administration:...

. The team worked there for two weeks, during which they built up a hospital tent complex, which was the main facility in the city for medical assistance
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland will allocate EUR 1 million to support the joint field hospital of Finnish and Norwegian Red Cross organizations. The hospital staff includes 20 Finnish medical workers, who will leave for Pakistan on October 12, 2005 and October 13, 2005. Finland also donated 1.000 tents capable of housing 15.000 individuals.
- France is continuing its efforts to assist the earthquake victims in Pakistan. After sending many rescue teams with dogs and equipment for rescue operations, French aid to Pakistan was, in November 2005, reaching 10.5 million euros. In addition to this, once must also consider France's contribution to EU programs and the generous contributions to various NGOs and private companies mobilized in France and in the stricken region since the first day of the quake. On the night of the earthquake, French authorities rushed 25 civil security personnel, 20 rescuers accompanied by dogs and specialized search and rescue material, 41 SAMU (France's emergency medical agency) personnel, and 18 military doctors along with relief materials.
- Germany has sent a team of 15 THW

Technisches Hilfswerk

The Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk is a civil protection organisation controlled by the German federal government...

experts with dogs and equipment for locating people in collapsed buildings. The German Red Cross

German Red Cross

The German Red Cross , or the DRK, is the national Red Cross Society in Germany.With over 4.5 million members, it is the third largest Red Cross society in the world. The German Red Cross offers a wide range of services within and outside Germany...

stands by with tents, water-purification equipment and mobile hospitals, to support the work of its partner organizations in the region.
- The Dutch department of International Co-operation promised EUR 1 million. A team of 66 rescue workers has arrived and works now in Bagh

Bagh

Bagh is the chief town of Bagh District in Azad KashmirBagh, the district headquarters of district Bagh is 100 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad via Kohallah & 80 Kilometers via Suddhen Gali, 205 Kilometers from Islamabad and 48 kilometers from Rawalakot. This town is situated on the confluence of two...

. The government added EUR 10 million, on October 11, 2005.
- Russia sent two flights carrying rescue teams with dogs and equipment for rescue operations, and it also sent a field hospital.
- Sweden has given 196 million kronor (24,2 million dollars approximately). Sweden is prepared to assist a rescue effort led by the UN in Pakistan

Pakistan

according to Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign...

Laila Freivalds

Laila Ligita Freivalds is a Swedish Social Democratic politician and a former Swedish Minister for Justice, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister....

.
- Switzerland dispatched ten disaster relief experts to Islamabad and the Swiss government pledged CHF

Swiss franc

The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...

1 million and non-governmental organisations pledged another CHF 750,000.
- Foreign Secretary

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...

Jack Straw

Jack Straw (politician)

John Whitaker Straw is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Blackburn since 1979. He served as Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001, Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair...

said that Britain was sending out 60 disaster response workers including 50 medical staff. International Development Secretary Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn

Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...

announced an initial allocation of PKR 10 million, or about GBP

Pound sterling

The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...

95,000. As of mid-November 2005, Britain has pledged over GBP 100 million. On October 31, 2005 Virgin Atlantic operated a humanitarian aid charter flight to the capital of Pakistan

Pakistan

, Islamabad

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...

with 55 tonnes of aid

Aid

In international relations, aid is a voluntary transfer of resources from one country to another, given at least partly with the objective of benefiting the recipient country....

for the affected by the earthquake in Pakistan

2005 Kashmir earthquake

Americas

- Canada has already offered CAD

Canadian dollar

The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...

100,000 (PKR 5 million) to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...

for early needs assessment. An additional CAD 200,000 (PKR 10 million) is being provided to the Canadian High Commission in Pakistan to respond to urgent requirements, i.e. housing

House

A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...

, water

Water

Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...

, food

Food

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...

and clothing

Clothing

Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...

. The Minister for International Cooperation

Minister for International Cooperation (Canada)

The Minister for International Cooperation is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing Canadian international development strategy, including responsibility for the Canadian International Development Agency . The current Minister is Bev Oda.-Ministers:Key:...

, Aileen Carroll

Aileen Carroll

Margaret Aileen Carroll, PC, MPP is a Canadian politician. She was the federal Minister for International Cooperation in the Paul Martin government, and later Ontario's Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Seniors.- Personal life :Carroll has a Bachelor of Arts from St...

, has also announced a pledge of CAD 20 million (PKR 1 billion), including 21 tonne

Tonne

The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...

s of blanket

Blanket

A blanket is a type of bedding, generally speaking, a large piece of cloth, intended to keep the user warm, especially while sleeping. Blankets are distinguished from sheets by their thickness and purpose; the thickest sheet is still thinner than the lightest blanket. Blankets are generally used...

s, dispatched by Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

aircraft

Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...

, some of which are being routed to Pakistan from current operations in Afghanistan. The Canadian government also pledged to match all public

Public

In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...

funds as well as lease two helicopter

Helicopter

s from the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

. A joint team of government officials has also been sent to evaluate further assistance, including the possibility of sending the Disaster Assistance Response Team

Disaster Assistance Response Team

The Disaster Assistance Response Team is a rapidly deployable team of 200 Canadian Forces personnel. It provides assistance to disaster-affected regions for up to 40 days. DART's headquarters is in Kingston, Ontario...

(DART). Also, due to the fact that many Canadians criticized their government of reacting slowly 10 months ago when the Asian tsunami hit, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has challenged Canada by saying that his government will match whatever donations Canadians make over the next two weeks to NGOs operating in the region. On October 26, 2005, CIDA increased its funding to $57 million, including $10 million donated to the South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund

South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund

The South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund is an initiative by the Canadian International Development Agency created on October 11, 2005, to match funds donated by Canadians between October 8 and October 26, 2005 to charitable organizations recognized by Revenue Canada in relief of the 2005 South Asia...

and the other half to the UN and the Red Cross movement.
– President Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...

has offered, in a letter addressed to the President of Pakistan and made public by officials in Havana

Havana

Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...

, to send 200 doctors to Pakistan in order to help treat the victims of the earthquake. Some 2,260 Cuban health brigadistas, more than 1,400 of them doctors, are in the area of Kashmir. The fully equipped Cuban Field Hospitals will be handed over to the Pakistani government. The Cuban Government has provided 234.5 tons of medicines and disposable materials, and 275.7 tons of most leading-edge equipment. More than 300 students of medicine have taken courses in the Cuban Field Hospitals. The Cuban Government has decided to offer a wide and free medicine scholarships program for 1,000 young Pakistanis from rural communities.
The first Cuban medical team was in Pakistan on October 14, six days after the earthquake, the fast acceptance of the aid was a surprise due to the close relation of Pakistan and the US; the two countries have not even exchanged Ambassadors at that time. The leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted President Musharraf as saying that "one of the most heart-warming letters of support" following the earthquake was from Fidel Castro. In his letter, Castro said that it was difficult for him to rest when thousands of Pakistanis were spending their days in pain, awaiting surgery.
- The United States announced that it would provide an initial contribution of USD 156 million (PKR 3 billion) for emergency relief in Pakistan, and teams from the United States were the first on the scene to deliver assistance. The U.S. military

Military of the United States

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...

also provided supplies and assistance. As of November 3, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has 933 personnel providing relief and reconstruction assistance in support of the Pakistan earthquake relief effort. Five CH-47 Chinook

CH-47 Chinook

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...

and three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are being moved into Pakistan immediately, and a C-17 Globemaster III

C-17 Globemaster III

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...

military aircraft has already been assigned to bring blankets, tents and other relief supplies to the victims. The 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH), established October 25 in Muzaffarabad, currently has 36 Intensive Care Unit beds, 60 intermediate minimal care beds, and two operating rooms. To date the MASH has performed 46 surgeries, and treated 548 non-surgical patients. Furthermore, a 23-member logistical support group is also being dispatched from McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

. The United States Agency for International Development

United States Agency for International Development

The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...

has provided more than USD $41.8 million for relief work in Pakistan, including nine completed airlifts of relief supplies. The airlifts delivered a total of 45,000 blankets, 1,570 winterized tents, 6,150 rolls of plastic sheeting for approximately 30,750 families, 15,000 water containers, 17 water bladders, 2 water purification units, 10 WHO emergency health kits, and 20 concrete cutting saws. USAID has also committed funds to the UN, other international organizations and NGOs. On Wednesday, November 9, 2005, business leaders from GE, UPS, Pfizer, Xerox, and Citigroup met with President Bush at the White House to announce the launch of the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund and website.

Oceania

- Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bruce Billson

Bruce Billson

Bruce Frederick Billson MP is an Australian politician and Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 1996. He represents the Division of Dunkley, Victoria....

offered condolences and said that Australia was donating A$

Australian dollar

The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...

500,000 (PKR

Pakistani rupee

23 million

Million

One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...

) for medical and relief assistance to help provide medical help and shelter to affected communities. Since then, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer

Alexander Downer

Alexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...

has said the Government has increased its total aid pledge to A$

Australian dollar

5.5 million (PKR

Pakistani rupee

250 million

Million

). As of the 11 October 2005, this has been extended by A$

Australian dollar

4.5 million

Million

(PKR

Pakistani rupee

204 million

Million

), bringing its total contribution to A$

Australian dollar

10 million (PKR

Pakistani rupee

453 million

Million

) In a Ministerial Press Release Defence on November 9, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced an ADF

Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...

deployment of about 140 personnel; comprising a command element, an aviation detachment of four Blackhawk helicopters, and logistics and communication personnel. They are to be based in Dhanni 20 km north-east of Muzaffarabad, where a central medical facility will be established to support efforts in the region. The deployment will last three months with an estimated cost of A$20 million.
- Caretaker Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...

Marian Hobbs

Marian Leslie Hobbs , a New Zealand politician, was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2008. She was initially a list MP and then represented the Wellington Central electorate...

said the government aid agency NZAID would make an initial contribution of NZD

New Zealand dollar

The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....

750,000 (PKR

Pakistani rupee

31 million

Million

) to the international relief effort. As of the 14 October 2005, this has been extended by NZD

New Zealand dollar

The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....

750,000 (PKR

Pakistani rupee

31 million

Million

), bringing its total contribution to NZD

New Zealand dollar

The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....

1.5 million

Million

(PKR

Pakistani rupee

62 million

Million

)

Multinational organizations

— An eight-member U.N. relief team arrived in Pakistan to aid in search-and-rescue operations, coordinate relief efforts and assess the impact of the quake. Agencies involved include the: United Nations Children's Fund

United Nations Children's Fund

United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...

, United Nations World Food Programme, United Nations Population Fund

United Nations Population Fund

The United Nations Population Fund is a UN organization. The work of the UNFPA involves promotion of the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. This is done through major national and demographic surveys and with population censuses...

and the International Nongovernmental Organizations Forum. Supplies such as blankets, clothes, tents, food for infants and medicine were being sent to the disaster regions. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , is a United Nations body formed in December 1991 by General Assembly Resolution 46/182...

has released USD 100,000 (PKR 5 million) of emergency fund for immediate relief aid.
World Health Organization

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...

- WHO is rushing 100,000 doses of anti-tetanus

Tetanus

Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...

globulin to Pakistan as part of their relief effort. WHO already has an extensive deployment in Pakistan's affected area.
— The European Commission released EUR 3.6 million (PKR 260 million) on 9 October. Funds are being made available to partner humanitarian organisations through ECHO, the humanitarian aid department of the European Commission.
(OIC) — Secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu

Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu is a Turkish academic, diplomat and currently the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations...

expressed immense shock and sadness at the tragedy and conveyed his "profound and sincere condolences to the government and the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan". He strongly appealed to all OIC member states and the international community, to expeditiously extend all possible humanitarian assistance and support to the Government and people of Pakistan, to overcome the impact of this tragedy.

World Bank Group
World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is a family of five international organizations that makes leveraged loans, generally to poor countries.The Bank came into formal existence on 27 December 1945 following international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements, which emerged from the United Nations Monetary...

- On October 9, the World Bank committed USD $20 million for recovery in Pakistan. This amount was raised to $40 million on October 11. A further $100 million is offered to build "designed houses" in Northern Pakistan and Kashmir area.

Non-governmental organizations

Humanity First
Humanity First
Humanity First is an international charitable trust established to promote and safeguard the preservation of human life and dignity. The organisation works with vulnerable communities in over 40 countries spanning 6 continents, and is now registered in 33 countries...

- The first to reach the earthquake zone. Doctors, paramedics and volunteers from UK, Canada, USA and Pakistan opened medical and tent camps which still continue to provide longterm health care and shelter to the victims of the earthquake.

Direct Relief International
Direct Relief International
Direct Relief International is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Barbara, California that focuses on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide...

- Through October 31, 2006, Direct Relief has provided 1.5 million courses of treatment of specifically requested medicines, supplies, and equipment, along with $1.1 million in cash grants to 12 clinics, hospitals, and organizations, to the relief effort, and continues to provide ongoing programmatic support to its partners.

Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...

- An emergency assessment and response team was dispatched to the region. A coordinator said that the "initial needs appear to be tents, blankets, medical kits, food aid, water and trauma counseling for those affected."

The International Rescue Corps
International Rescue Corps
The International Rescue Corps is a volunteer organization involved in disaster rescue, based in Grangemouth, Scotland.It is an independent United Nations registered disaster rescue service with an accredited UK National Open College Network qualification in Urban Search and Rescue...

are deploying a specialist Urban Search and Rescue team of 14 volunteers to Pakistan as part of the wider UK response.

Red Crescent - Emergency assessment and response teams are being deployed in all parts of the affected region. A team of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reached Muzaffarabad on October 10. Further teams deployed in Uri and Jammu with the Indian Red Cross Society. The ICRC has set up a website to facilitate the contact between relatives and friends unable to get in touch with each other.

The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....

- Is mobilizing some truckloads of relief supplies.

SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...

have announced an emergency relief program in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minhaj Welfare Foundation
Minhaj-ul-Quran
Minhaj-ul-Quran International is an international Sufi-based non-governmental organization founded by Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri in 1981 in Lahore, Pakistan...

has been active in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

over a decade. At the time of the earthquake they established tent villages with supplies and full medical facilities.

The Edhi Foundation
Edhi Foundation
The Edhi Foundation is a non-profit social welfare program in Pakistan, founded by Abdul Sattar Edhi in 1951.Edhi is the head of the organization and his wife Bilquis, a nurse, oversees the maternity and adoption services of the foundation. Its headquarters are in Karachi, Pakistan.The Edhi...

has been active in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

for two decades. They are providing food, clothes, blankets and medicine to those affected by the disaster.

The World Islamic Mission Welfare Trust - are sending out phases of doctors to the area, including both General Physicians and Surgeons with tens of thousands of pounds worth of medicine. They are also setting up various dispensaries within affected areas, as well as collaborating with hospitals within the area to take airlifted injured survivors. Rehabilitaion will become the main focus after the immediate phase has paased.

SPO
Strengthening Participatory Organization
Strengthening Participatory Organization is the largest rights-based national support organization in Pakistan working since 1994 to strengthen and support community organizations and public interest institutions for promotion of democratic governance, social justice, peace and social harmony...

- Provided relief aid and medical goods at the Lady Reading and Khyber Hospitals, in Peshawar. Till date, goods worth 850 000 Rs. have been sent.

DEMIRA Deutsche Minenraeumer e.V. deployed an emergency team to Balakot district only hours after the earthquake. In cooperation with the Pakistan army DEMIRA set up a medical facility in the valley of Ghanool providing the hard-hit mountain communities with lifesaving triage and air ambulance.

JEN Japan Emergency NGOs
JEN Japan Emergency NGOs
JEN, formerly named Japan Emergency NGOs, was established in January 1994 as the first federation of Japanese NGOs. By working and pulling together the expertise and human and financial resources of several NGOs, it became feasible to carry out a project which otherwise could have been difficult by...

has started to work for the relief operation on 9 October 2005. Expert came from Japan to provide Non Food Items (NFIs) to the affected people in District Bagh. JEN worked in District Bagh until December 2008. JEN constructed 3 permanent structure (earthquake proof)Schools and 3 Shelter schools, each school contains 2 shelters.

New Approach

The chief architects of the response Jan Vandemoortele, Andrew MacLeod

Andrew MacLeod

Cluster Approach - Official UN site

Estimate of financial aid

On November 19, 2005 it was estimated that the international community as a whole pledged about 5.8 billion USD.

External links

Earthquake Jolts Corporate Responsibility

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