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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan: Saudi Arabia gives 100 million dollars aid to quake victims |
| 2008-11-01 |
| (AKI) - Saudi Arabia has announced it will provide 100 million dollars for victims of Pakistan's devastating earthquake. The Pakistani government said that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Photo) announced the aid would be provided to the President's Earthquake Relief Fund for victims of the quake that struck Baluchistan on Wednesday. Health officials fear the death toll from the earthquake may rise above 300, while at least another 1,000 are believed to have been injured. The earthquake, which reached 6.2 on the Richter scale, struck the Ziarat valley in Baluchistan, north of the capital Quetta. Tens of thousands have been left homeless and international aid agencies have been struggling to provide aid to victims in below freezing temperatures as a series of after shocks continue to affect the area. According to the Pakistani daily, Dawn, Ziarat District Nazim Dilawar Khan expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of relief. He claimed that 47,000 people had been left homeless in the district and were waiting for government help. "Wam is the worst affected village with 114 deaths," he said, adding that people had no other option but to spend the night outdoors. He warned of more deaths if immediate shelter was not provided to the homeless. Provincial authorities said the government was making every effort to provide tents and food to the survivors. They said that more relief would reach Quetta on Friday from Islamabad and other parts of the country. "People who have not been affected by the earthquake in Ziarat town and other areas are also demanding tents and blankets," a senior official told Dawn. Saudi Arabia, the biggest international aid donor so far, said it would provide all possible assistance to Pakistan. |
| Posted by:Fred |