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British public donates Rs 200 cr for quake victims

October 26, 2005 16:20 IST

The British public has so far raised over 25 million pounds (about Rs 200 crore) for the survivors of October 8 killer quake that killed 53,000 in Pakistan and around 1,400 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, which is coordinating the relief donations, however, said last night that the money they collected was still not enough and urged the UN to fully finance the huge aid effort.

The charity call came on the eve of a United Nations international donors conference in Geneva to discuss the relief operation in affected countries. The DEC wanted the public to continue pledging money to help an estimated three million people left homeless.

"Once again, people across the UK are leading the way through their generosity online, by the emergency phone lines and by post. We need them to continue to give, as more money is desperately needed," DEC Chief Executive Brendan Gormley said.

The UN estimated that 1.5 million people are still facing a winter without shelter.

"We need winterised tents, warm clothes and blankets because of the changing weather. But the greatest need is tents, tents and more tents," Madhuri Dass, communications manager of Care International, one of 13 DEC member agencies, said.

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