Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- A 39-member Bangladesh medical team comprising doctors, nurses and pharmacists left Dhaka for Karachi on Monday to help the victims of Pakistan's worst floods in decades.
Earlier, the government decided to send relief and medical team as part of its US$2.0 million aid package.
Prior to departure of the medical team, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said the government would send 54 tons of medicines, 500,000 water purification tablets, 2,000 hygienic kits, and other medical accessories.
Eleven tones of medicines have already been sent to Pakistan, he said, adding that 10,000 blankets and 5,000 tents will also be sent for the flood victims.
Pakistan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Ashraf Qureshi was also present at the airport to see off the Bangladesh medical team.
Talking to the media, High Commissioner Qureshi said: "We're extremely grateful to Bangladesh government and its people for the generous support (for flood victims in Pakistan)… it's like one brother is helping another brother."
He said many non-government organizations were also very active in Pakistan to help the flood victims and to rehabilitate them. ‘BRAC is very active in Pakistan right now…Bangladesh chapter of Muslim Aid is also there… it’s a tremendous solidarity of Bangladeshi people.’
Recalling Bangladesh’s support when earthquake had hit Pakistan hard, high commissioner Qureshi said Bangladesh had been ‘very forthcoming’ in the post-earthquake period too.
The Bangladesh medical team led by medicine specialist Professor Abul Kalam Azad will stay in Pakistan for nearly four weeks, mainly in the southern part of the country, being stationed at Hyderabad, according to reports.
BBN/SI/AD-07Sept10-5:14 pm (BST)
