Alwaleed Offers $1m More for Quake Victims

ISLAMABAD, 31 October 2005 — Prominent Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal yesterday announced an additional donation of SR3.75 million ($1 million) for Pakistan’s quake victims. The announcement was made as the first Saudi relief convoy of 100 containers with foodstuffs, blankets and tents left for Pakistan.

Prince Alwaleed announced the donation after visiting the devastated capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He also offered to set up 20 schools in the region.

“Twenty primary schools will be opened in Muzaffarabad and other areas,” Prince Talal, flanked by Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, told reporters after attending a military briefing on relief efforts. Earlier the prince had announced a donation of SR20 million ($5.3 million) as his personal contribution for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims.

SPA adds: The first consignment of aid donated by the Saudi public was on its way to Dammam to be shipped to Pakistan. Dr. Saaed Al-Harithy, chairman of the relief committee, said it would be followed by other consignments of food and medical aid. He said the committee would open a regional office in Islamabad for the supervision of Saudi relief efforts and the supply of medicines to hospitals. Al-Harithy called upon Saudi businessmen and philanthropists to donate to the committee’s fund for the support of Pakistani quake victims. He asked them to make donations in Account No. 7777 in the National Commercial Bank. Businessmen and others are also requested to contribute foodstuffs, medicine and other supplies for inclusion in future consignments.

The United Nations received aid pledges worth more than half a billion dollars at an emergency conference in Geneva on Wednesday. UN officials in Islamabad have said, however, that much of that amount was for future use and that it and ignored the urgent and present need for cash.

Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan would need billions of dollars for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the quake victims, many of them at serious risk because of approaching winter in the region of the earthquake.