DRAFT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
14 November 2005
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by James Elles, Simon Coveney and Bernd Posselt
on behalf of the EPP-ED Group
on Access to humanitarian aid in Kashmir
B6-0597/2005
European parliament resolution on access to humanitarian aid in Kashmir
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its resolution on Jammu and Kashmir of 16 March 2000,
- having regard to the recommendations of the ad hoc delegation of the European Parliament, following its visits to Kashmir from 8 to 11 December 2003 and from 20 to 24 June 2004,
- having regard to the conclusions of the Council of 18 October 2005,
- having regard to the Statement by the EU Presidency of 27 October 2005,
- having regard to Declaration of the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Summit of 12 and 13 November 2005,
A. whereas an earthquake of Magnitude Mw = 7.6 occurred on 8 October 2005 causing an enormous amount of damage and serious casualties over an area of 30000 km2 in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan and Kashmir,
B. whereas the earthquake has resulted in the death of 73318 people, more than 69392 people have been seriously injured, another 59000 people have been less seriously injured and over 3 million people have been left homeless facing very cold weather and all kinds of serious illnesses; whereas all these figures may still rise,
C. whereas the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have estimated that the total costs of the humanitarian relief operation, rehabilitation and reconstruction will amount to USD 5.2 billion of which USD 2 billion has been pledged by donors;
D. whereas the United Nations (UN) only received USD 98.5 million and had USD 38 million in unconfirmed pledges on 11 November 2005 after the launch of a flash appeal for USD 550 million on 26 October 2005 to cover relief efforts for the next six months
E. whereas the EU and its Member States have pledged over € 200 million and Member States have also contributed helicopters, aircraft and engineers to the relief effort carried out by the Pakistani authorities and the international community,
F. whereas the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to open five crossing points on 7 November 2005 on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir under a plan to let earthquake survivors from divided families meet and to facilitate the flow of aid,
1. Expresses its sincere condolences, sympathy and solidarity to all those affected by the earthquake that struck South Asia on 8 October 2005;
2. Remains seriously concerned about the situation of survivors, especially the people living in high country settlements cut off by landslides who can only be reached by a fleet of relief helicopters; alarmed about reports that people in the hardest hit areas of Uri, Baramulla and Kupwara in Kashmir have received little if any aid and there is no access to any form of international aid; urges the Indian authorities to facilitate the provision of all the necessary aid;
3. Welcomes the joint relief effort by the Government of Pakistan and the international community, including the assistance from EU Member States and NATO; is aware of the enormous efforts that have to be made before the harsh mountain winter sets in; welcomes the aid package of € 93.6 million proposed by the European Commission and the pledges made by EU Member States and other donors; urges donors to pledge more funds and commit themselves to the funds they have already pledged; is aware of the logistical problems faced by the aid workers and the urgent need for winterized shelter, sanitation facilities, medical care, water and food; fully supports relief operations like "Winter Race", which has been launched by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to deliver 10,000 shelter repair kits to high-altitude villages;
4. Fully supports requests for immediate funding of emergency aid; urges donors to contribute to the USD 550 million requested by the UN without delay; reminds donors of the additional USD 580 million pledged during the donor conference of 26 October 2005; requests the Commission to indicate as soon as possible whether the EU will be able to make further funds available within the global transfer or under other mechanisms;
5. Welcomes the decision taken at the SAARC Summit of 12 and 13 November 2005 to cooperate in the field of disaster management and to coordinate the efforts in this respect;
6. Welcomes the agreement between the Governments of India and Pakistan on the opening of crossing points on the LoC; is convinced that the opening of crossing points is of vital importance to the people of Kashmir and the relief operation; expresses its hope that the agreement can be implemented without too many administrative problems for the people of Kashmir using the crossing points; welcomes the opening of the crossing points linking Titrinote with Chakan da Bagh, Uri with Chakothi and Teetwal-Nauseri with Chiliana; calls for the immediate opening of the two other crossing points that are part of the agreement; supports the call by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to open other points crossing the LoC and to allow the movement of trucks in order to support the relief operation for hundreds of thousands of people in remote valleys and on high mountains in Kashmir;
7. Calls on the Governments of India and Pakistan to consider the opening of crossing points on the LoC as a further step in the process of reconciliation and the development of good neighbourly relations; calls on the Indian and Pakistani Government to continue with this important process that should, while involving the population concerned, lead to a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of India and Pakistan, the NATO Secretary-General and the UN Secretary-General.