The Singapore Government, in partnership with the Singapore Red Cross Society (SRCS), has announced a US$300,000 reconstruction project in Pakistan. The project is part of Singapore's assistance package for the relief and reconstruction efforts in the areas affected by the Pakistan earthquake on 8 October 2005. The pledge was made by Singapore's High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Aziz Mahmood, at the International Donors' Conference in Islamabad on 19 November 2005.
The US$300,000 reconstruction project will be funded by the donations raised by the SRCS. To date, the SRCS has raised a total of S$1,139,000 through public and corporate collections, including the US$100,000 seed money contributed by the Singapore Government.
The Singapore Government and the SRCS will proceed to identify a suitable project in consultation with the Government of Pakistan.
Thus far, the SRCS' effort in the Pakistan earthquake includes the following:
(I) ASSESSMENT AND MEDICAL RELIEF MISSION
On 10 October 2005, the SRCS sent a 3-member assessment and
medical relief team to Islamabad to conduct an initial assessment of the
situation and to provide medical aid.
(II) PROVISION OF DISASTER RESPONSE ASSISTANCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES (IFRC)
On 14 October 2005, the SRCS deployed a disaster response specialist
to aid the IFRC in overseeing the distribution of food and relief
supplies. SRCS also contributed S$266,000 to the IFRC relief mission.
(III) TEAM SINGAPORE
The SRCS initiated Team Singapore together with Mercy Relief to
bring together Singapore hospitals and local NGOs/VWOs to provide
medical assistance in Pakistan. Between 18 October and 15 November,
five teams assisted the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association in the areas
of emergency and in-patient medical treatment. The SRCS also
contributed over S$200,000 worth of relief supplies for the Team Singapore
relief effort.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
19 NOVEMBER 2005