U.S. Embassy Provides Humanitarian Relief to Earthquake Victims in India

October 10, 2005

NEW DELHI -- U.S. Ambassador David C. Mulford announced today that the United States is providing Rs. 44.3 lakhs ($100,000) in emergency relief funds to assist the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that struck in northern Pakistan and India.

"On behalf of the people and government of the United States, I offer my deepest sympathy to those affected by the earthquake and the families of the victims," Ambassador Mulford said. "The United States is pleased to support India’s relief effort. We recall with gratitude the assistance provided by India when Americans needed help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina."

Out of this contribution, Rs. 22.15 lakhs ($50,000) will go to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The balance will go to provide direct relief to victims in the affected areas.

Repeating the offer made by Secretary Condoleezza Rice in her conversation with Foreign Minister Natwar Singh on October 8, the Ambassador stressed the United States stands ready to provide India whatever assistance is needed.

A White House statement from President George Bush called the earthquake a “horrible tragedy” and said the “people of the United States offer our deepest sympathies for the loss of life and destruction.”

These funds have been made available by the authority of the Ambassador from the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.