Dato' Ahmad Anwar Adnan (second from left) officially handing over the aid to Nawabzhad Malik Amad Khan at the Chaklala air force base. With them is Maj-Gen Datuk Abdul Aziz Ibrahim (left). — Picture by Yazit Razali
RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan government has pledged to put in maximum effort to ensure that relief goods from Malaysia reach its flood victims.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzhad Malik Amad Khan told the Malaysian press yesterday that its National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) would distribute the goods as soon as possible.
However, he said saving lives was the priority.
Nawabzhad was speaking at the official handing over of relief aid from Malaysia at the Pakistan Air Force base in Chaklala.
"Goods, especially medicine and food, will be distributed to the victims. For the next stage, the NDMA will focus on the rehabilitation of flood-affected areas."
Nawabzhad said the flood victims still needed tents, blankets, medicine and dry rations.
He thanked the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, for putting together the relief aid on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the people of Malaysia.
"This kind gesture won't be forgotten by the people of Pakistan. It will serve to strengthen the friendship and brotherhood of both countries."
Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan Dato' Ahmad Anwar Adnan said there was still more that could be done by Malaysians.
"The victims need long-term help to ensure that they will be able to achieve a semblance of their normal lives."
He said there were many Malaysian non-governmental organisations that had experience in rehabilitation work, such as Mercy Malaysia.
In the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, Mercy Malaysia assisted in the building of small clinics for the people, he said, adding that the NGOs could do the same this time.
"We will be discussing how to bring in the next consignment of relief goods with the Pakistani government."
Maj-Gen Datuk Abdul Aziz Ibrahim of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), who headed the mission to Pakistan, said there were still 34,473kg (76,000lbs) of relief goods that had yet to be flown in to Pakistan. The goods are being stored at the RMAF base in Subang.
Two C-130 aircraft belonging to the RMAF touched down at the Pakistan Air Force Base at 11.30pm on Friday (2.30am Malaysian time), bringing relief aid for the flood victims.
The consignment, worth RM1.9 million, was from Giant Corporation, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad, Limkokwing University, FFM Berhad, Lion Parkson Foundation and eight pharmacies under the Health Ministry. It contained goods such as canned food, milk powder, blankets, medicines, diapers and tents weighing 22,680kg.
The Malaysian government also donated RM3.14 million to the Pakistani government.
More than 20 million people have been affected by the unprecedented flooding in Pakistan.
Around one-fifth of Pakistan's territories (roughly the size of Peninsular Malaysia) was affected by the floods. The deluge has left approximately 1,600 people dead.
22/08/2010
By Masami Mustaza
Courtesy of
Malaysia
