    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 9, 2005]
    [Pages 1689-1690]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on South Asia Earthquake Relief Efforts
    November 9, 2005

        One month ago, the nation of Pakistan suffered its worst natural
    disaster in a century when a massive earthquake struck northeast of the
    capital city of Islamabad. The human toll is staggering. This disaster
    has taken the lives of more than 70,000 Pakistanis. It has injured
    almost 70,000 more and left nearly 3 million people without their homes.
    In India, the earthquake killed more than a thousand people and injured
    over 6,000 others.
        As the harsh mountain winter approaches, millions of people in these
    affected areas will continue to need food, water, shelter, and medical
    care. They will also need long-term help to get their lives and
    communities back on their feet. Once again, the world is called to
    comfort those affected by a terrible natural catastrophe. People across
    our country pray for the people in Southeast Asia, and people in our
    country are willing to help as well.
        The United States is playing a leading role in the relief and
    recovery efforts, in cooperation with the Government of Pakistan. We've
    already made $156 million available for relief and reconstruction needs.
    We've provided food, water, blankets, tents, and medical care. We have
    disaster response personnel on the ground to assess needs and offer
    assistance.
        Our military is playing a key role as well. A Navy construction
    battalion is helping to clear roads and solve other engineering
    challenges. Our helicopters have flown over a thousand missions to
    deliver aid to isolated areas. And they have transported thousands of
    people to places where they can receive medical treatment and shelter.
    We've also got a military hospital now operating in Pakistan. I'm
    grateful to the men and women in uniform for the noble work they are
    doing, and they represent the best of America, the generous spirit of
    our country. Our government's response to this tragedy is--should say to
    the people of the world, we care when somebody else suffers.
        Last month, I announced that five distinguished American business
    leaders would work to encourage private and corporate contributions to
    help those affected by the natural disasters in Southeast Asia. Jeff
    Immelt, Jim Kelly, Hank McKinnell, and Sandy Weill are with us
    today, and I want to thank you all for being here. Anne Mulcahy of Xerox is not here, but she's a part of the team. I
    want to thank them very much for their willingness to serve,

    [[Page 1690]]

    and some of them will be going over to Pakistan along with Ambassador
    Hughes and others to assess the situation as
    a part of a Presidential delegation. When they come home from Pakistan,
    they're going to travel our country to rally our citizens to help the
    victims of this disaster.
        I ask all of our citizens and businesses to contribute generously to
    this cause. The international response to this disaster has been
    generous, but the needs are still great. And so I also urge other
    governments, peoples in other lands, to do whatever they can do to help.
        In recent months, we've had our own disasters to deal with. We had
    the destruction on the gulf coast of our country, and I want to remind
    our citizens that people around the world came to help us. They offered
    not only money and equipment, but they offered their prayers. I know
    that nothing can take the grief away of those whose lives have been
    affected. But I also hope the people who have been affected by natural
    disasters know that there's a lot of people that care for them; there's
    a lot of people who want to help.
        As families across Southeast Asia begin to rebuild their lives, we
    offer our sustained compassion, our prayers, and our assistance. And we
    offer you our assurance that America will continue to be there to help.
        I want to thank you all again for being here. Thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:49 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and chief executive officer, General
    Electric Co.; James P. Kelly, former chairman
    and chief executive officer, United Parcel Service of America, Inc.;
    Henry A. ``Hank'' McKinnell, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, Pfizer, Inc.;
    Sanford I. ``Sandy'' Weill, chairman,
    Citigroup, Inc.; and Anne M. Mulcahy,
    chairman and chief executive officer, Xerox Corp.