Washington pledges sustained aid

01 Jan, 2006

United States will continue its assistance for the quake affected people till their complete rehabilitation and revival of normal life, US Congressman Jon Porter said here on Saturday.
Leading an eight-member US Congressional delegation, Jon Porter visited field hospitals being run in Muzaffarabad and Shinkiari by the US military.
Speaking to media during the visit, he said that US would also aid the Pakistan government in carrying out reconstruction in the areas ravaged by the October earthquake.
The delegation met the quake injured and inquired about their health. The visitors conveyed sympathy of the US government and people for the quake survivors.
Jon Porter said that the ordeal of the quake-affected people was not over and the Pakistan government needed more donations from the international community for the rehabilitation of the sufferers.
He praised the Pakistan leadership, government and the army for the timely relief efforts. "They have done a tremendous job for relief and rehabilitation in quake-hit areas," he said.
Jon Porter said that he would urge the US Congress to donate more funds for the quake victims in Pakistan and he would personally also raise funds through campaigns in US. The American Ambassador in Pakistan Ryan C Crocker, who accompanied the delegation, said that the US had so far handed over around 200 million dollars in kind and cash to the Pakistani government and it would provide more.
The envoy said that Washington would assist Pakistan also in the reconstruction process, particularly in rebuilding educational institutions and hospitals.
The 84-bed US military field hospital in Muzaffarabad has so far treated 11,000 quake injured and carried out 393 surgeries, the delegation was informed.

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