Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon has appealed to the international community for providing assistance to Pakistan for carrying out relief operation for tens of thousands of people affected by the terrible earthquake on Saturday.
"I am sure Commonwealth countries will do everything they possibly can help Pakistan recover from this tragedy. We in the Commonwealth Secretariat will also assist in every possible way," he said in a statement, according to the Commonwealth sources here on Thursday.
McKinnon said he was aware that disaster relief funds had been established and he appealed to all to contribute swiftly and generously.
"This is a time when we should pull together and help," said the Secretary General. The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, and is believed to be the strongest to have hit Pakistan in a century.
Expressing his grief, McKinnon said he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the devastation caused by the earthquake. It has claimed thousands of lives in Pakistan, with many thousands more injured. There have also been casualties in India and Afghanistan. The damage to property and infrastructure has been enormous."
He sympathised with the bereaved families, who were affected by this natural disaster, which so far had killed 23,000 and injured over 51,000 people and added "the Commonwealth's sympathy and solidarity are with the government and people of Pakistan, in particular, at this difficult time."
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