MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
14/11/2005
by MORGANTINI, PAPADIMOULIS, SEPPANEN
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on the humanitarian situation in Kashmir
B6‑0600/2005
European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian situation in Kashmir
The European Parliament,
A. whereas the devastating earthquake on 8 October 2005 that struck South Asia, killed more than 55,000 people in the region of Kashmir,
B. noting the Kashmir region's special political situation, given the long-standing border conflicts between India and Pakistan,
C. noting that more than 1.8 million people are now homeless in the region of Ahzad Jammu Kashmir (85 per cent of the population in the Pakistan-administered capital of Muzaffarabad alone),
D. recognising the coordinated efforts made by the governments of India and Pakistan to open five points at the Line of Control dividing Kashmir from 7 November in order to ease the movement of relief supplies,
1. Stresses that the worst hit areas have become inaccessible, as roads and communication systems are largely destroyed and underlines the tragic consequences that will result from a continued delay in the delivery of humanitarian aid to remote mountainous areas;
2. Calls for increased coordination between the UNHCR, NGOs and the governments of Pakistan and India to ensure that the aid currently provided by the European Union is rapidly deployed to Kashmir;
3. Underlines that the Commission has reacted swiftly, drawing on its main emergency instrument that is humanitarian aid (ECHO) and has activated also the Community Monitoring and Information Centre for Civil Protection;
4. Expresses its serious concern about the severe budget constraints faced by the Commission as far as humanitarian aid is concerned and stresses that most of the remaining operational reserve of DG ECHO has been used by other recent major emergencies;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UNCHR and the governments and parliaments of India and Pakistan.