An extra £10 million is being added to the £2.1 million of support already committed towards the Asia earthquake relief effort, International Development Secretary, Mr Hilary Benn, announced today in response to the UN flash appeal.

Immediately after the earthquake struck on Saturday, the Department for International Development activated its emergency plan, offering support to the Pakistan authorities.

DFID is co-ordinating the UK Government's response to the earthquake and within the first 24 hours: organised the first search and rescue team to be flown out, shortly followed by a specially chartered aircraft carrying a further 75 search and rescue workers, 5 rescue dogs, 4 DFID humanitarian aid specialists and 8 extra consular staff, plus blankets and essential radio communications equipment; the UK's search and rescue teams were the first to arrive in Pakistan, and have rescued a number of people so far. DFID humanitarian experts are coordinating the search and rescue operation from Muzaffarabad; and committed $250,000 (£138,500) to support the World Health Organisation ship health and trauma kits to Pakistan, meeting half of the cost of their appeal, enough to support 40,000 people for 3 months.

In addition, DFID has: chartered a second aircraft from the UK taking British Government stocks of 536 winter family tents and 19,000 blankets which left East Midlands airport on Tuesday (11 Oct). The tents have been handed over to Oxfam and the blankets to Islamic Relief for onward distribution; and offered to meet the transportation costs of flying aid supplies to Pakistan on behalf of all of the aid agencies making up the Disasters Emergency Committee.

More supplies are on their way: 10,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 winter family tents and 700 blankets have left Lahore by truck for Muzaffarabad where they will be distributed by Islamic Relief; a third DFID chartered aircraft is due to leave East Midlands airport at 6pm on Thursday (13 Oct) carrying 264 tents to be distributed by Oxfam; plus an Humanitarian Information Centre, including a vehicle and trailer, which the UK is providing for the UN. The information centre which includes computers, printers, map-making equipment and global positioning systems will help in the co-ordination and management of the humanitarian community; around 10 airlifts carrying a total of 7,500 blankets, 2,700 tents, 20,000 plastic sheets, 40,000 sleeping mats and 14,000 water jerricans (10 litre) from UK government stores in Dubai are being planned in response to requests from NGOs. The first of the flights from Dubai is due to arrive in Islamabad on Thursday (13 Oct); and four more helicopters have arrived in Pakistan from the UN and Red Cross. Britain has identified eight commercial helicopters that are available now and we will be making a financial contribution to the UN and Red Cross helicopter budgets.

Commenting, Mr Hilary Benn said: "My department responded very quickly to the crisis, activating our emergency plan immediately and scrambling search and rescue workers to Pakistan within hours.

"We are working very closely with the Pakistan authorities, the UN and UK aid agencies to ensure that we continue to send the right sort of support and supplies and that they reach those who need it.

"So far we have committed over £12 million of support and we will continue to do all that's needed to continue providing support and help save lives. We are ready to respond to further requests."

ENDS For further information, contact DFID Press Office on 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.

DFID News is available on our website at www.dfid.gov.uk