III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 356 

Urging a commitment by the United States and the international community 

to continue relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia 

and to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected areas. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 27, 2006 

Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. BIDEN, and Mr. 

HARKIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Urging a commitment by the United States and the international community to continue relief efforts in response 

to the earthquake in South Asia and 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, approximately 60 miles north-northeast of 

Islamabad, with aftershocks and landslides continuing to 

affect the area; 

Whereas more than 75,000 people have died, including approximately 17,000 children, nearly 70,000 people are in-
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•SRES 356 ATS

jured and approximately 3,000,000 people are homeless 

as a result of the earthquake; 

Whereas the United States has pledged a total of 

$510,000,000 in assistance to the affected areas, including $300,000,000 for relief and reconstruction, 

$110,000,000 to support Department of Defense relief 

operations, and at least $100,000,000 in anticipated contributions from private entities in the United States; 

Whereas, as of January 25, 2006, the total amount of humanitarian assistance provided to Pakistan by the United 

States Agency for International Development is more 

than $66,500,000; 

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 3,200 missions, evacuated approximately 3,800 people, and delivered nearly 15,000,000 

pounds of supplies; 

Whereas the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could be 

more than $5,000,000,000; 

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 robust humanitarian response of the Government of the United States to the earthquake disaster has 

made an impact on the Government and people of Paki-
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•SRES 356 ATS

stan and demonstrates the United States commitment to 

Pakistan and the well-being of its residents; 

Whereas the United States humanitarian mission in Pakistan 

may impact positively on the way Americans are viewed, 

especially in areas where the population may oppose 

United States counterterrrorism policies and where radical groups and affiliates of known terrorist organizations 

are conducting high-profile relief efforts; and 

Whereas the results of a poll taken by the nonprofit organization Terror Free Tomorrow show that, at the end of November 2005, more than 46 percent of Pakistanis had a 

favorable view of the United States, double the percentage of Pakistanis that held that view in May 2005: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the members of the United 

3 States Armed Forces and civilian employees of the 

4 Department of State and the United States Agency 

5 for International Development for their swift and 

6 sustained efforts to assist the victims of the earth7 quake in South Asia that occurred on October 8, 

8 2005; 

9 (2) commends the Governments of Pakistan 

10 and India for working together to save lives and pro11 vide humanitarian relief in the affected areas and 

12 encourages them to continue in this spirit of co13 operation; 
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•SRES 356 ATS

1 (3) commends the international community, in2 cluding nongovernmental organizations, private cor3 porations, and individual citizens, for responding 

4 swiftly and generously to the relief and recovery ef5 fort; 

6 (4) urges continued attention by international 

7 donors and relief agencies to the needs of vulnerable 

8 populations in the stricken areas, particularly the 

9 thousands of children who have been left parentless 

10 and homeless by the disaster; and 

11 (5) urges the Government of the United States 

12 to take the lead in encouraging the international 

13 community to commit to continue relief efforts in re14 sponse to the earthquake in South Asia and to help 

15 rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected areas. 

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