ISLAMABAD, May 31 (APP): Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Saturday handed over a second consignment of 3,000 all weather family tents to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui for the Chinese earthquake victims.  Speaking on the occasion, Luo Zhaohui thanked the PRCS for its generous support and hoped that relief goods would help in alleviating the sufferings of the victims.

"The help reflects that the whole Pakistani nation stands with the Chinese people in this hour of need and this would further strengthen people-to-people relations," he added.

PRCS Chairman Saeed Ahmed Qureshi said the PRCS expressed its sympathy with the government and people of China, particularly the bereaved families and victims of the recent earthquake in Chengdu region.  He said the PRCS was sending 3,000 family tents to assist the victims of this tragedy while the Society has also sent 500 tents and a donation of US $50,000 to the Red Cross Society of China for the quake victims.  He hoped that the support would contribute towards the overall efforts of the Red Cross Society of China in alleviating the sufferings of the affectees.  Qureshi said that International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will directly airlift the tents from Islamabad to Sichuan, the most affected province by the earthquake.

He said that the PRCS has so far contributed Rs 60 million in cash and kind for the Chinese quake victims.

He said that PRCS continue to be in close contact with the Chinese Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and is ready to provide additional support if needed.  It is pertinent to mention here that the Chinese Red Cross (CRC) had provided cash assistance of US$ 100,000 during 8/10 earthquake and Rs 1,186,960 for rains and snows in 2005.

The CRC is also assisting the PRCS in reconstruction projects worth US$ 1 million that include Girls High School No 2, Mansehra and Vocational Training Center, Hatian Dupatta and Lamnian in AJK.

The ceremony was attended by PRCS Executive Committee members Gul Hanif Khan, Mian Muhammad Javed, Fazlullah Qureshi and Tariq Masood.