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Karachi, October 24, 2005: U.S. Navy sailors off-loading relief supplies from the boat deck of the ship USS Pearl Harbor in Karachi.
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Karachi – A U.S. Navy vessel ferrying almost 140 tons of urgently needed earthquake donations arrived today, making its second relief trip in a week to the port of Karachi. The USS Pearl Harbor arrived carrying blankets and nonperishable food items donated by Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. carrier was greeted on arrival by a group of young Pakistani disaster assistance volunteers who participated in the offloading of relief supplies for earthquake victims. The 13 Pakistani youth, ages 15-21, were accompanied by a small group of their parents as they greeted the ship dockside.
The young Pakistanis, who are currently volunteering in the nation’s relief efforts, spent a year studying at U.S. high schools while living with American host families as part of the U.S. State Department’s "Partnerships for Learning Youth Exchange and Study" program.
"The return of a U.S. ship carrying tons of emergency supplies donated by Pakistanis living abroad and greeted by a group of Pakistani young people who have lived in the U.S. and are now selflessly volunteering their time to earthquake relief efforts highlights the deep friendship between our two peoples," said U.S. Karachi Consul General Mary H. Witt.
"Our helicopters, some flown with Pakistani pilots and crew, are flying relief missions from dawn until dusk. Our technical teams are partnering with Pakistani experts in road building and reconstruction. A team of American physicians of Pakistani origin is already on the ground assisting local medical teams," Witt said.
"The American people and government have heard your call for help and are enthusiastically stepping forward to assist you," Witt said. "We are here to partner with you now and promise to remain with those Pakistani’s working hard to rebuild both their lives and their country," Witt said.
The ship, which first anchored in Karachi on October 18, was diverted from normal operations to urgently deliver dump trucks, front-end loaders, backhoes, cargo trucks, a road grader, a forklift, a generator, and other equipment and supplies. It first docked just one day after another U.S. ship, the Northern Lights, delivered the first shipment of heavy machinery at the port of Karachi.
The equipment represented just a portion of up to $50 million in disaster relief pledged by the United States. Ongoing relief efforts are already underway by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, and other U.S. federal agencies. The U.S. has already deployed helicopters, medical teams and other technical personnel and donated more than 483 tons of tents, water, blankets, medicines, and other supplies is ongoing. Individual contributions from concerned Americans and U.S. corporations have already totaled more than $15 million.
"The hearts and prayers of the American people continue to go out to the people of Pakistan affected by this catastrophic earthquake," Witt said. "But it is our actions – even more than our words – that demonstrates we are determined to join with you to alleviate suffering and help this great nation rebuild."
In Washington, U.S. President George Bush has called on Americans to contribute generously to humanitarian organizations providing relief assistance. "We continue to urge the American people to support the relief effort" he said. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other U.S. officials have vowed to keep world attention focused on increasing relief efforts and promised to be strong advocates for the relief effort during the October 26 international donor conference in Geneva.
For additional information on U.S. earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan, click
on http://usinfo.state.gov/sa/south_asia/earthquake.html and http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/south_asia_quake/
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