LONDON, 11 October 2005 — Britain, the first foreign country to send an emergency disaster rescue team to Islamabad in the wake of the devastating earthquake, has stepped up its official and voluntary sector aid to the region.
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn yesterday said the initial 500,000 pounds paid by the UK government was just the start, and the UK will donate more. The initial payment was used to pay for the immediate charter of a plane loaded with emergency rescue teams and supplies. The British emergency team, including a 12-strong search and rescue team from the Department for International Development and Rapid UK was immediately deployed, and has helped find several survivors in a collapsed Islamabad tower block using sophisticated sonar equipment.
Britain’s 2 million-strong Muslim community is also rallying to help with the rescue and aid efforts. The Muslim Council of Britain in one day yesterday collected 3 million pounds from donations at its affiliated mosques throughout the country. One of its affiliates, Islamic Relief is acting as a lead agency on behalf of other humanitarian organizations including Muslim Aid and Islamic Hands.
Islamic Relief, cooperating with other UK charities such as OXFAM and Save the Children, has already sent a team of 65 emergency personnel including doctors and nurses to help with the rescue and aid effort. It has launched an urgent emergency appeal to help the victims of the Asian earthquake. “Over 200 volunteers from Aberdeen to Southampton are out today collecting money for this appeal. The destruction has been devastating. We need to start rebuilding the lives of the survivors and those affected as soon as possible,” said an Islamic Relief spokesperson.
