MANAMA, 23 October 2005 — The second batch of the $3 million Bahraini aid, ordered by the Cabinet for the Pakistani victims the day after the Oct. 8 earthquake, was airlifted to Islamabad by the US Navy yesterday.
Deputy Premier and Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdulla ibn Khalid Al-Khalifa, who is also president of the Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS), told reporters at the airport that Bahrain’s King Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa, tasked the society to send the relief in the name of the Bahraini people to their brothers and sisters in Pakistan.
“The first batch had already been airlifted to Pakistan and there will be more to come,” he said.
Pakistani Ambassador to Bahrain Iftikhar Hussain Kazmi, who was also present at the airport, expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s efforts to help the victims. The first batch of aid weighing 85 tons and consisting of tents, beds, blankets, bed sheets, generators, medical aid, and food was sent last Tuesday (Oct. 18) via DHL.
The aid package was put together after talks with Pakistan Embassy officials over what was needed most and, it will be handed over to officials of the Bahrain Embassy in Islamabad, who in turn will pass it on to the Pakistani Red Crescent Society.
Yesterday’s batch, estimated at 17, 000 pounds and consisting of beds, heaters among other items, was airlifted in a direct flight to Islamabad by a US Navy C130.
Bahrain News Agency (BNA) English service reported that a number of journalists accompanied the relief flight into Pakistan, but the three reporters who were due to fly with the aid and return on the same day were barred by the Bahraini Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) from boarding the plane.
