Text 1678, 86 rader
Skriven 2005-11-09 23:33:00 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (051109) for Wed, 2005 Nov 9
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President Discusses South Asia Earthquake Relief Efforts
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 9, 2005

President Discusses South Asia Earthquake Relief Efforts
The Roosevelt Room



1:49 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: One month ago, the nation of Pakistan suffered its worst
natural disaster in a century when a massive earthquake struck northeast of
the capital city of Islamabad. The human toll is staggering. This disaster
has taken the lives of more than 70,000 Pakistanis. It has injured almost
70,000 more, and left nearly 3 million people without their homes.

In India, the earthquake killed more than a thousand people and injured
over 6,000 others. As the harsh mountain winter approaches, millions of
people in these affected areas will continue to need food, water, shelter
and medical care. They will also need long-term help to get their lives and
communities back on their feet. Once again, the world is called to comfort
those affected by a terrible natural catastrophe. People across our country
pray for the people in Southeast Asia. And people in our country are
willing to help, as well.

The United States is playing a leading role in the relief and recovery
efforts, in cooperation with the government of Pakistan. We've already made
$156 million available for relief and reconstruction needs. We've provided
food, water, blankets, tents and medical care. We have disaster response
personnel on the ground to assess needs and offer assistance.

Our military is playing a key role, as well. A Navy construction battalion
is helping to clear roads and solve other engineering challenges. Our
helicopters have flown over a thousand missions to deliver aid to isolated
areas. And they have transported thousands of people to places where they
can receive medical treatment and shelter. We've also got a military
hospital now operating in Pakistan. I'm grateful to the men and women in
uniform for the noble work they are doing. And they represent the best of
America, the generous spirit of our country. Our government's response to
this tragedy is -- should say to the people of the world, we care when
somebody else suffers.

Last month I announced that five distinguished American business leaders
would work to encourage private and corporate contributions to help those
affected by the natural disasters in Southeast Asia. Jeff Immelt and Jim
Kelly, Hank McKinnell and Sandy Weill are with us today, and I want to
thank you all for being here. Anne Mulcahy of Xerox is not here, but she's
a part of the team. I want to thank them very much for their willingness to
serve, and some of them will be going over to Pakistan, along with
Ambassador Hughes and others, to assess the situation as a part of a
presidential delegation. When they come home from Pakistan, they're going
to travel our country to rally our citizens to help the victims of this
disaster.

I ask all of our citizens and businesses to contribute generously to this
cause. The international response to this disaster has been generous, but
the needs are still great. And so I also urge other governments, peoples in
other lands, to do whatever they can do to help.

In recent months, we've had our own disasters to deal with. We had the
destruction on the Gulf Coast of our country, and I want to remind our
citizens that people around the world came to help us. They offered not
only money and equipment, but they offered their prayers. I know that
nothing can take the grief away of those whose lives have been affected.
But I also hope the people who have been affected by natural disasters know
that there's a lot of people that care for them, there's a lot of people
who want to help.

As families across Southeast Asia begin to rebuild their lives, we offer
our sustained compassion, our prayers and our assistance. And we offer you
our assurance that America will continue to be there to help.

I want to thank you all again for being here. Thank you for coming.

END 1:52 P.M. EST

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