38 quake-hit injured airlifted to UAE for treatment

UAE Ambassador in Pakistan, Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi on Sunday said around 38 serious earthquake-hit injured have been airlifted to UAE for medical treatment.
He said UAE medical teams had also established a fully equipped 100-bed field hospital in Balakot on October 12 to help mitigate sufferings of the quake victims.
In a statement issued here, he said soon after the quake UAE donated $100 millions to Pakistan to carry out rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
Highlighting the relief and rescue activities, the Ambassador Al Shamsi said search and rescue teams comprised of 95-member arrived in Pakistan from Abu Dhabi and Dubai with sniffer dogs and other modern equipment.
A relief air bridge has been established and 25 planes with relief goods brought with around 1200 tonnes of items, he added.
He said a UAE Red Crescent Society team had surveyed the affected areas and engaged in distribution of tents, blankets, food items and medicines purchased from the local market.
He said Red Crescent Society had so far brought seven planes with relief goods while purchases have also been done from the local market.
Ambassador Al Shamsi said UAE Red Crescent Society's team had distributed relief goods in Patika, Azad Kashmir with the co-operation of the Cabinet Division.
He said choppers carried blankets, tents and food supplies to hundreds of victims in Patika.
Meanwhile, several associations in UAE continue their appeal for donations. The Women Associations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah are mobilising campaigns to collect donations.
He said the UAE government was wholeheartedly participating in the assistance and supported all the efforts by the government of Pakistan to provide aid to victims of the earthquake that caused massive destruction to Mansehra and Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawlakot in Azad Kashmir.
The Ambassador said Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Charitable and Humanitarian Works was engaged in relief operations in Balakot.
A total of 12,000 blankets and 7600 tents had been distributed and ration cards were given to 5600 registered families in Janoon and other villages in the first week.
The UAE Scouts have donated 40 tonnes of relief goods, he said and added Pakistani community in UAE has also sent eight planes with relief goods, including tents, blankets, medicines and food items.