The international response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake was widespread and immediate, as many countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations offered an abundance of relief aid to the affected regions − particularly Pakistan, which was hit the hardest due to the earthquake's epicentre being around Muzaffarabad, the capital city of Pakistani-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The aid given was in the form of monetary donations and pledges, as well as relief supplies including food, various medical supplies, tents and blankets. Rescue and relief workers as well as peacekeeping troops were sent from different parts of the world to the region, bringing along rescue equipment, including helicopters and rescue dogs. The earthquake displaced some 3.3 million people, while killing around 80,000–100,000.

Africa - The Tunisian government sent a C-130 plane with 14 tons of relief supplies, including food, blankets and medical supplies to Pakistan.

Asia - The Afghan government sent four rescue helicopters from its nascent air force, as well as a fixed-wing plane loaded with four tons of medicine and army medical personnel, to help with disaster relief in the hardest-hit areas of Kashmir. The country also pledged US$500,000 in aid. The Afghan Red Crescent Society also announced that it would donate 20 tons of dried food and send teams of medical personnel. The aid was given to the local authorities, with Pakistan getting most of it because the damages were greater on the Pakistani side of the border. – The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, pledged US$60,000 in assistance. - The government of the People's Republic of China offered emergency aid worth US$6.2 million to help earthquake victims in Pakistan. A 49-member international rescue team and the first batch of rescue materials were sent to Pakistan on October 9, 2005. US$1 million in cash was sent out on October 10, 2005. Rescue teams with sniffer dogs were deployed throughout the region to search for and rescue any survivors. - The government of Hong Kong approved a grant of HK$3.5 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to World Vision Hong Kong in order to undertake relief projects. Hong Kong procured and arranged to air-freight 20 tons of relief supply, including tents and blankets, to Pakistan. - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered quake assistance to Pakistan. Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners were in touch regarding cooperation in relief work. India sent 25 tons of relief material to Pakistan including food, blankets and medicine. Indian MNCs companies such as Infosys have offered aid up to $226,000. On October 12, an Ilyushin-76 cargo plane ferried across seven truckloads (about 82 tons) of army medicines, 15,000 blankets and 50 tents and returned to New Delhi. A senior air force official also stated that they were asked by the Indian government to be ready to fly out another similar consignment. On October 14, India dispatched the second consignment to relief material to Pakistan, by train through the Wagah Border. The consignment included 5,000 blankets, 370 tents, 5 tons of plastic sheets and 12 tons of medicine. The third consignment was of medicine and relief material and was supposed to be sent, also by train.Hindustan Times India also pledged $25 million as aid to Pakistan. India opened the first of three points at Chakan Da Bagh, in Poonch, on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for the 2005 Kashmir earthquake relief work.

- Indonesia sent a C-130 Hercules aircraft with a medical team, medicine and various emergency materials to Pakistan. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) also prepared to send humanitarian relief and a special team. - Iran dispatched different food items, blankets, tents and medicine through two aircraft. - Israel offered aid to Pakistan and India immediately following the earthquake; Pakistan accepted the aid on the condition that the aid be channeled through a third-party organization such as the United Nations. The nature of the aid is unknown. – Prince Rashid bin Al Hassan, chief of the Jordanian Relief Agencies arrived in Pakistan on October 11, 2005, bringing with him a 50-bed mobile hospital to be deployed in Rawalakot. - Japan provided experts and equipment for rescue operations. On October 11, 2005, Japan pledged a further US$20 million and stated that it was ready to dispatch dozens of troops and several transport helicopters to aid relief efforts. A statement by the Japanese Defense Ministry clarified on October 12, 2005, that they would be sending approximately 290 troops and three helicopters to help with the relief work in Pakistan. - The Kuwaiti government announced US$100 million in aid to Pakistan. Half of the aid package was expected to be offered in the form of relief assistance, while the other half (approximately $51 million) would be used to repair damaged infrastructure. - Malaysia dispatched a search-and-rescue team to quake-ravaged Pakistan and US$1 million (MYR 3.8 million) to its government. The Malaysian team comprised 50 men from various agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the National Security Division, Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysian Red Crescent Society and Mercy Malaysia. – Nepal offered US$50,000 in relief to Pakistan. - In late 2006, a $20 billion development scheme was mooted by Pakistan for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake hit zones in Azad Kashmir. A land use plan for Muzaffarabad city had been prepared by Japan International Cooperation Agency. - A spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry said that the country was also willing to give humanitarian assistance to Pakistan. - Saudi King Abdullah announced an emergency aid package worth 133 million dollars for Pakistan. Earlier, Saudi King Abdullah ordered the rapid establishment of an airlift of doctors, medicine, tents and emergency supplies to the affected region. The Saudi public also made a big contribution to helping victims of the earthquake, on the call of Saudi government. The Saudi government went one step further by institutionalizing this assistance in the form of Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake victims (SPAPEV). - Singaporean response to 2005 Kashmir earthquake: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on behalf of the people of Singapore, expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was preparing to dispatch a 44-member Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team to help Pakistan's relief and rescue operations. Another two medical relief teams were also sent. - The South Korean government sent US$500,000 along with blankets, relief food, and medical supplies to Pakistan as part of their initial response. A further $3 million in aid was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on October 10, 2005. - Turkey sent 30 aircraft carrying medical teams to Pakistan. Furthermore, on October 20, 2005, Turkey announced a relief package of US$150 million; financial assistance of $100 million and relief goods worth $50 million including 1 million blankets, 50,000 tonnes of flour and 25,000 tonnes of sugar. The Turkish Red Crescent sent 90 health personnel to Pakistan, built tent cities and hospitals. The Turkish Red Crescent also started building a new tent city that will provide shelter for 70,000 people. - The total monetary commitment, as of October 10, 2005, was US$100 million. United Arab Emirates President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ordered the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid to the region and rescue teams. The Dubai police also left for Pakistan.

Europe - Norway provided some NOK 240 million ($38 million) in aid. - Poland sent rescue dogs, medics and other disaster specialists - Belgian Federal Government allocated 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 was 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 was to set up a field hospital for performing basic operations. - The prime minister Jiří Paroubek announced on TV, that the Czech Republic would provide the victims with CZK 25 million (PKR 61 million). - The Danish Government initially granted DKK 10 million (PKR 97 million) in aid, but later offered two additional grants of DKK 20 million each, making the total aid DKK 50 million (PKR 485 million). - Estonia sent an 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 assistancePostimees: Eestist jäi Pakistani sügav jälg - Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland allocated EUR 1 million to support the joint field hospital of Finnish and Norwegian Red Cross organizations. The hospital staff included 20 Finnish medical workers, who left for Pakistan on October 12, 2005, and October 13, 2005. Finland also donated 1.000 tents capable of housing 15.000 individuals.http://www.ulkoministerio.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=42241&intIGID=2&LAN=FI&Thread=42256,39489,19209,15871,29364,29021,25384,31792,42349,42324,42288,42241,&intThreadPosition=11Sivua ei löytynyt - France continued 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 have also considered 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 sent a team of 16 THW experts with dogs and equipment for locating people in collapsed buildings.THW - Homepage The German Red Cross stood by with tents, water-purification equipment and mobile hospitals, to support the work of its partner organizations in the region.Klarer Blick für die Not - The Dutch Department of International Co-operation promised EUR 1 million. A team of 66 rescue workers arrived and worked in Bagh. The government added EUR 10 million, on October 11, 2005. - Russia sent two flights carrying rescue teams with dogs and equipment for rescue operations, and it also sent a field hospital. - Sweden gave 196 million kronor (24,2 million dollars approximately). Sweden prepared to assist a rescue effort led by the UN in Pakistan according to Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Laila Freivalds. - Switzerland dispatched ten disaster relief experts to Islamabad and the Swiss government pledged CHF 1 million and non-governmental organizations pledged another CHF 750,000. - 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.VIRGIN ATLANTIC OPERATES RELIEF FLIGHT TO ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN Accessed 2009-12-31

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