Tuesday October 11, 2005

Search-and-rescue team and RM3.8m sent to Pakistan

SUBANG: Malaysia has despatched a search-and-rescue team to quake-ravaged Pakistan and US$1mil (RM3.8mil) to its government.

It will also send aid soon to India and Afghanistan which have also been hit by earthquakes on Saturday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wisma Putra would inform him of the amount and the type of assistance to be given to India and Afghanistan.

“We have not forgotten to help India and Afghanistan but we received information on Pakistan earlier, and in Pakistan, the impact of the earthquake is more devastating,” he told reporters after sending off the Malaysian team at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here yesterday.

OFF YOU GO: Abdullah sending off the SMART personnel at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base.

The Malaysian team comprises 50 men from various agencies and non-governmental organisations, including the National Security Division, Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysian Red Crescent Society and Mercy Malaysia.

Abdullah said his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz had thanked Malaysia for the contribution.

Abdullah also thanked the team, particularly Muslims, who had to leave their families during Ramadan to help another nation.

Asked how long the team would be deployed in Pakistan, Abdullah said that would depend on the team’s assessment of the situation there. –Bernama

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