[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 319 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 319

 Commending relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia 
  and urging a commitment by the United States and the international 
   community to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected 
                                 areas.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 17, 2005

Ms. Mikulski submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia 
  and urging a commitment by the United States and the international 
   community to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected 
                                 areas.

Whereas on October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India, 
        and Afghanistan;
Whereas the epicenter of the earthquake was located near Muzaffarabad, the 
        capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles 
        north-northeast of Islamabad, with aftershocks and landslides continuing 
        to affect the area;
Whereas the most affected areas are the North West Frontier Province, Northern 
        Punjab, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and Indian-administered Kashmir;
Whereas more than 75,000 people have died, nearly 70,000 are injured, and 
        approximately 2,900,000 people are homeless as a result of the 
        earthquake, and, according to the Executive Director of the United 
        Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 17,000 of the dead are children;
Whereas the United States has pledged a total of $156,000,000 to provide 
        assistance in the affected countries, with $50,000,000 to be used for 
        humanitarian relief, $50,000,000 to be used for reconstruction, and 
        $56,000,000 to be used to support Department of Defense relief 
        operations;
Whereas the total amount of humanitarian assistance committed to Pakistan by the 
        United States Agency for International Development is more than 
        $40,000,000;
Whereas the Department of Defense has deployed approximately 875 members of the 
        Armed Forces and 31 helicopters to aid in the earthquake relief efforts;
Whereas since October 8, 2005, United States helicopters have flown more than 
        1,000 missions, evacuated approximately 3,400 people, and delivered 
        nearly 5,600,000 pounds of supplies;
Whereas the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected areas is 
        difficult due to the mountainous terrain, cold weather, and damaged or 
        collapsed infrastructure;
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her October 12, 2005, visit 
        to Pakistan, said the United States would support the efforts of the 
        Government of Pakistan over the long-term to provide assistance to the 
        victims of the earthquake and rebuild areas of the country devastated by 
        the earthquake;
Whereas the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could be in excess of 
        $1,000,000,000; and
Whereas the recovery and reconstruction of the areas devastated by the 
        earthquake will require the concerted leadership of the United States 
        working with the governments of the affected countries and the 
        international community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the members of the United States Armed Forces 
        and civilian employees of the Department of State and the 
        United States Agency for International Development for taking 
        swift action to assist the victims of the earthquake in South 
        Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005;
            (2) commends the international relief effort that includes 
        the work of individual countries, numerous international 
        organizations, and various relief and nongovernmental entities;
            (3) commends the Governments of Pakistan and India for 
        their cooperation in the common cause of saving lives and 
        providing humanitarian relief to people on both sides of the 
        Line of Control;
            (4) encourages further cooperation between Pakistan and 
        India on relief operations and efforts to fortify and expand 
        peace and stability in the region as they cope with the impact 
        of the earthquake during the winter of 2005 and the spring of 
        2006 and seek to rehabilitate the lives of those affected;
            (5) urges the United States and the world community to 
        reaffirm their commitment to additional generous support for 
        relief and long-term reconstruction efforts in areas affected 
        by the earthquake; and
            (6) urges continued attention by international donors and 
        relief agencies to the needs of vulnerable populations in the 
        stricken countries, particularly the thousands of children who 
        have been left parentless and homeless by the disaster.
                                 <all>