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Pakistan earthquake: Commission
proposes
€93.6 million aid package The
European Commission is proposing that an additional
amount of at least €80 million be made available to
address the immediate needs of survivors of the
earthquake in Pakistan on 8th October (€30 million), and
to contribute to the costs of rehabilitation and
reconstruction (€50 million). This is in addition to the
€13.6 million emergency humanitarian aid already
released, bringing the total proposed for 2005/6 to
€93.6 million ($111.7 million). The very substantial sum
proposed underlines the European Commission’s commitment
to Pakistan and to its people. The Commission has
approached the budgetary authority (Council of Ministers
and European Parliament) with this proposal, and has
called for an early response to this proposal so that
the EU can continue to act swiftly to help those still
suffering the terrible effects of the earthquake.
Commissioner for External Relations
Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “With millions now
homeless, and practically all infrastructure destroyed,
the challenge of reconstructing lives and livelihoods in
the aftermath of this terrible natural disaster will be
with us for many years. Pakistan can count on Europe as
a friend and reliable partner not only in this moment of
crisis, but also in the long years of hard work to
come”.
European Commissioner for Development
and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel declared: “We are
facing an enormous humanitarian catastrophe and with
winter just around the corner, a second humanitarian
disaster looms for the four million people without a
roof over their heads and the 70,000 injured people
needing medical attention. For all humanitarian
organisations, it is a race against the clock. Aid
funding must be significantly increased to speed up the
purchase and delivery of tents, blankets and other
assistance as well to boost the transport capacity of
humanitarian agencies.”
Humanitarian Aid
As the humanitarian funds available
to the Commission for 2005 have been exhausted, the
Commission is seeking to draw down an extra €30 million
from the emergency reserve of the European Union budget.
This requires the approval of the budgetary authority.
The Commission hopes and expects that the Parliament and
Council will recognise the urgency of the situation and
move as quickly as possible to unblock these additional
funds to provide humanitarian assistance for hundreds of
thousands of earthquake victims in Pakistan. As the
humanitarian needs will continue to exist over the next
months, further humanitarian funds may be required in
due course.
The funds, to be channelled through the Commission’s
humanitarian partners (NGOs, Red Cross/Crescent and UN
agencies) will be used to meet a wide range of
humanitarian needs including shelter, medical support,
medicines, household items, hygiene kits, water supplies
and sanitation.
Reconstruction
Though professional needs assessments
are not yet available, it is certain that very
substantial funds will be required to reconstruct
housing, medical facilities, schools, roads, water pipes
and all basic infrastructure. The Commission is
proposing that €50 million be made available for
reconstruction.
The Commission has identified €20
million in unspent funds at the end of 2005, which can
be allocated to reconstruction in Pakistan. An
additional €10 million is being sought from the
Emergency Reserve in 2005. A further €20 million should
be found in 2006.
Professional needs assessments will
be essential to maximising the impact of international
aid to reconstruction in Pakistan, and ensuring that
work is properly co-ordinated. The Commission is
participating in this work through its Delegation in
Islamabad and ECHO field teams, in co-operation with the
World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
For more information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/pakistan/intro/index.htm |
