Bush Calls for More Earthquake Assistance to Pakistan
09 November 2005
U.S. private-sector representatives to help assess needs and raise relief funds
By Stephen Kaufman
Washington File White House Correspondent
Washington -- One month after a devastating earthquake struck India and Pakistan, President Bush praised U.S. relief efforts in South Asia and called on Americans and the international community to contribute more to help meet short- and long-term needs as winter approaches.
Speaking at the White House November 9, Bush said the United States government has made $156 million in relief funds available for a disaster that has killed more than 70,000 people.
"We've provided food, water, blankets, tents and medical care," Bush said. "We have disaster response personnel on the ground to assess needs and offer assistance."
U.S. military forces also are playing a "key role," by clearing roads, delivering aid to isolated areas and transporting people to areas where they can receive medical attention and shelter. An American military hospital also has been set up in Pakistan.
Praising the work of U.S. military forces, the president said that they "represent the best of America, the generous spirit of our country.
"Our government's response to this tragedy ... should say to the people of the world, we care when somebody else suffers," he said.
As survivors begin to rebuild their lives, Bush said the United States offers "our sustained compassion, our prayers and our assistance."
The transcript of President Bush's remarks is available on the White House Web site.
SUPPORT FROM AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS
The president, accompanied by American business leaders who are working to encourage private and corporate relief contributions, said some would be traveling to Pakistan with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes "to assess the situation," and subsequently would tour the United States to urge Americans to make donations.
"I ask all of our citizens and businesses to contribute generously to this cause. The international response to this disaster has been generous, but the needs are still great. And so I also urge other governments, peoples in other lands, to do whatever they can do to help," Bush said.
He reminded Americans that, following recent hurricane disasters on the U.S. Gulf Coast, "people around the world came to help us. They offered not only money and equipment, but they offered their prayers."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan urged potential donors to contribute at the Web site www.SouthAsiaEarthquakeRelief.org.
"[T]hose contributions will then go to relief organizations in the region that are on the ground helping the people who continue to have many needs that need to be met," McClellan said.
APPRECIATION FROM PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR
Speaking outside the White House after the president's remarks, Pakistani Ambassador Jehangir Karamat welcomed the president's relief plan as "a great initiative."
"[O]n behalf of the government of Pakistan, I would like to say how deeply we appreciate this initiative and how much we think it will do for us. This really galvanizes a nationwide philanthropic effort to support the disaster in Pakistan, and it is a disaster which is still playing out," Karamat said.
The ambassador said his country, which suffered most of the earthquake damage, is "doing what we can" to cope with the disaster and relief efforts as winter approaches.
"We are getting a lot of international help, but I think ... the U.S. has really come in very strongly with the military, with the immediate relief, [and] with the monetary support" he said.
Thanking President Bush and the business leaders, Karamat said their joint initiative "really tops it all in the sense that it really is going to do a great job for us."
With their support, the ambassador said he expected the initiative to yield a "very very good figure." But, he added, "more than the figure, I would say it's the spirit behind this."
Currently, international aid funds are being divided between reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts and Karamat said he expects more aid to arrive.
"There are people coming in with offers of setting up hospitals, schools, homes for children, [and] pre-fab accommodations. So when you put all that together, we are getting a lot of support," he said.
As part of the president's initiative, Hank McKinnell, chief executive office Pfizer Inc., will be traveling to Pakistan with Under Secretary Hughes and three other business leaders beginning November 12.
Speaking outside the White House, McKinnell said the delegation will visit affected areas "to see what we can do in terms of not only raising funds to support the effort, but provide American products that are needed in the emergency relief effort and American know-how."
The American private sector also seeks to partner with the Pakistani government and nongovernmental organizations working with the relief effort.
"A very strong part of the American culture is wanting to help and not stand by helplessly," McKinnell said. "Clearly there are millions of people in Pakistan that need our help."
He added that some private-sector funds also will be used in India.
McKinnell also said an international donor's conference is scheduled for November 19 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
