JEDDAH, 23 February 2006 — The Saudi ambassador to Pakistan inaugurated the office of Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims in Islamabad yesterday.
“The (office) has been made possible due to the generous contributions made by the Saudi people as a result of the special appeal issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,” said Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri.
Asseri said that people from the office would visit the affected areas on a regular basis to evaluate the needs of the people who have been displaced by the devastating Oct. 8 earthquake. “Their needs will be immediately processed and relief provided without delay,” he said.
According to Ambassador Asseri, the office will initially concentrate on supplying earthquake victims with emergency relief goods, including tents, blankets, medicine and medical equipment. These relief goods have been already delivered to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP).
He noted that the Saudi Ministry of Health has donated SR4 million worth of medicine. The office has also provided sleeping bags, blankets and tents to the devastated areas.
Under the second phase, the office will be preparing a plan to build several model villages that would be constructed at different locations in the devastated areas, said Ambassador Asseri.
“The Saudi Red Crescent has been in the forefront of the relief effort in Pakistan. They set up the first field hospital in Mansehra; it started operating on Oct. 11,” said Asseri.
The hospital staff comprises more than 100 people, including doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, biomedics, X-ray technicians and assistants. It has a capacity of attending to over 1,000 patients every day.
“We were the first to come to help and will remain as long as there is a need for help,” said Asseri.
The leadership, government and the people of Saudi Arabia responded immediately when the destructive earthquake struck Pakistan. King Abdullah announced a donation of $133 million toward relief efforts. He also made a special appeal to the Saudi people to donate generously to mitigate the sufferings of the quake-affected victims.
“Over $32 million was collected on the first day itself,” said Asseri. “It was very remarkable to see the enthusiasm of the Saudi people.”
At the Donors Conference held in Islamabad on Nov. 19, Saudi Arabia emerged as the top donor committing over $573 million.
Speaking to Arab News, the ambassador said that donations from Saudi Arabia are increasing by the day. “We are currently working on the distribution of SR1.5 million donation made during the visit to Pakistan of Prince Ahmad, deputy interior minister of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
