International Response To The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake - Europe

Europe

• Norway - Norway provided some NOK 240 million ($38 million) in aid.

• Poland - Poland sent rescue dogs, medics and other disaster specialists

• Belgium - Belgian Federal Government allocates EUR 250,000 (PKR 18 million) and Flemish Government EUR 125,000 (PKR 9 million) for equipment and relief assistance in Pakistan and India. A 5 people strong rescue team has been sent and 22 people of the special B-fast rescue team, departed for the region on October 11, 2005. The main purpose of the B-fast team is to set up a field hospital for performing basic operations.

• Czech Republic - The prime minister Jiří Paroubek announced on TV, that the Czech Republic will provide the victims with CZK 25 million (PKR 61 million).

• Denmark - The Danish Government initially granted DKK 10 million (PKR 97 million) in aid, but has since offered two additional grants of DKK 20 million each, making the total aid DKK 50 million (PKR 485 million).

• Estonia - Estonia sent a 18-member medical disaster relief team to the northern Pakistan city Batagram. The team worked there for two weeks, during which they built up a hospital tent complex, which was the main facility in the city for medical assistance

• Finland - Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland will allocate EUR 1 million to support the joint field hospital of Finnish and Norwegian Red Cross organizations. The hospital staff includes 20 Finnish medical workers, who will leave for Pakistan on October 12, 2005 and October 13, 2005. Finland also donated 1.000 tents capable of housing 15.000 individuals.

• France - France is continuing its efforts to assist the earthquake victims in Pakistan. After sending many rescue teams with dogs and equipment for rescue operations, French aid to Pakistan was, in November 2005, reaching 10.5 million euros. In addition to this, once must also consider France's contribution to EU programs and the generous contributions to various NGOs and private companies mobilized in France and in the stricken region since the first day of the quake. On the night of the earthquake, French authorities rushed 25 civil security personnel, 20 rescuers accompanied by dogs and specialized search and rescue material, 41 SAMU (France's emergency medical agency) personnel, and 18 military doctors along with relief materials.

• Germany - Germany has sent a team of 15 THW experts with dogs and equipment for locating people in collapsed buildings. The German Red Cross stands by with tents, water-purification equipment and mobile hospitals, to support the work of its partner organizations in the region.

• Netherlands - The Dutch department of International Co-operation promised EUR 1 million. A team of 66 rescue workers has arrived and works now in Bagh. The government added EUR 10 million, on October 11, 2005.

• Russia - Russia sent two flights carrying rescue teams with dogs and equipment for rescue operations, and it also sent a field hospital.

• Sweden - Sweden has given 196 million kronor (24,2 million dollars approximately). Sweden is prepared to assist a rescue effort led by the UN in Pakistan according to Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Laila Freivalds.

• Switzerland - Switzerland dispatched ten disaster relief experts to Islamabad and the Swiss government pledged CHF 1 million and non-governmental organisations pledged another CHF 750,000.

• United Kingdom - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that Britain was sending out 60 disaster response workers including 50 medical staff. International Development Secretary Hilary Benn announced an initial allocation of PKR 10 million, or about GBP 95,000. As of mid-November 2005, Britain has pledged over GBP 100 million. On October 31, 2005 Virgin Atlantic operated a humanitarian aid charter flight to the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad with 55 tonnes of aid for the affected by the earthquake in Pakistan.