Berlin: As Pakistan has appealed the
international community for immediate aid to the flood-ravaged
nation, Germany on Thursday hiked its humanitarian assistance by
Euro 10 million to Euro 25 million.
The greater assistance from Germany came just after a day
when European Union promised to provide another Euro 30
million emergency aid for the flood victims, in addition to
Euro 40 million humanitarian assistance.
Besides Germany, some other EU members have also surged
their bilateral humanitarian assistance for Pakistan and now
the total contributions so far amount to be around Euro 50
million.
Meanwhile, the first shipment of 15 tonne German relief
supplies, which included tents, blankets, tablets for
decontaminating drinking water and medicines to prevent
water-borne diseases, arrived in Pakistan last night.
German aid organisations are preparing to send a second
consignment of relief supplies soon to the deluge-plagued
country.
Chancellor Angela Merkel today assured Pakistani Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that Germany country will
continue to support his nation to cope with the catastrophe on
bilateral and multilateral levels.
In a telephone conversation, the two leaders discussed
the latest situation in the flood-devastated areas and the
Chancellor expressed her sympathy with millions of people
affected by the disaster, a government spokesman said here.
The chancellor also offered Germany`s readiness to
support reconstruction of Pakistan`s infrastructure destroyed
by the worst natural disaster in the country`s history.
Germany`s development cooperation with Pakistan will be
re-oriented accordingly and expanded next year, the spokesman
said.
Announcing the increase in German aid, Foreign Minister
Guido Westerwelle said the magnitude of the disaster is much
higher than believed until now and is "extremely worrying".
The United Nations estimates that as many as four million
people have been left homeless and their number doubled in the
past few days.
Germany`s emergency aid is primarily intended for
providing food and drinking water, medical services and
shelter for the flood-hit population.
The German Minister called upon the public to donate
generously to support urgently needed humanitarian assistance
for the flood victims.
"With your donations, you can contribute significantly to
alleviate the sufferings of the people in Pakistan."
Westerwelle too was informed about the latest situation
in the flood-affected region in a telephone conversation with
his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmoud Qureshi yesterday.
PTI
