[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 45 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Pages 1689-1690]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 of 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

[[Page 1690]]

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 and 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, 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. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.