European countries offer aid to quake-hit S Asia

Pakistani policemen and rescuers remove debris from a collapsed building hit by a massive earthquake in Islamabad yesterday. The massive earthquake is feared to have killed thousands of people in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

As casualty figures rose from the devastating quake the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said up to three million euros (3.6 million dollars) could be approved within a day if requested by agencies working on the ground.

"We are all hoping that the news does not get steadily worse as the day progresses but we are fearful that the casualty figures may mount and that international support may be needed," said EU aid commissioner Louis Michel.

A spokesman said the commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) was in touch with two organizations -- Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Netherlands and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) -- about the crisis.

"It depends on what these organizations tell us they need," said the spokesman, Amadeu Altafaj, stressing that the two organizations were chosen because they are already on the ground.

"They can save more lives and faster. This is the priority of course," he told AFP.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for his part said, "We are offering help to the Pakistani government and are ready to respond to all requests."

Straw said he had been "very distressed" to hear of the quake, particularly as "so many British people of Pakistani heritage come from the area affected or have relatives who live there."

Overseas Development Minister Hillary Benn, calling the earthquake, "a major disaster," said British search and rescue teams were ready to fly out to the affected areas as soon as help is requested.

In Berlin Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Germany had immediately released 50,000 euros to be made available to Pakistani authorities through Berlin's embassy in Islamabad.

The German Red Cross would be working with the Pakistani Red Crescent to bring relief to affected areas, and Berlin was in contact with the United Nations with regard to further humanitarian action, he said.

Turkey, a frequent victim of earthquakes which have killed many thousands of people, also offered aid to fellow Muslim country Pakistan, Anatolia news agency reported, quoting Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

"We are ready to provide every sort of help," Gul said, adding that Ankara had a "duty" to do so.

Turkish civil defence and Red Crescent teams, experienced in working in earthquake zones, had been placed on the alert.

Gul also sent condolences to India, Anatolia said.

Turkey's neighbour Greece, which also suffers almost daily tremors, said it was ready to send a team of specialists to the region.

Expressing sympathy and solidarity, the foreign ministry said "Greece intends to contribute to the efforts of search and rescue."

Elsewhere, French President Jacques Chirac sent a message of support to his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf, his office said.

"France is standing by Pakistan in this painful trial," Chirac added, without specifying any offer of assistance.

Musharraf received a similar message from Russia's President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said.