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Bush says the United States is sending cash and helicopters to Pakistan

Photo: President Bush waves as he arrives for services at St. John's church, Sunday, in Washington.

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President George W. Bush said Sunday the United States is sending cash and eight helicopters in response to Pakistan's plea for international assistance with earthquake recovery. "Thousands of people have died, thousands are wounded, and the United States of America wants to help," Bush said from the Oval Office. Saturday's magnitude-7.7 earthquake killed at least 20,000. Officials said the death toll could climb much higher and Bush declared the quake the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history. With Pakistan's ambassador away from Washington, Bush invited the embassy's deputy chief of mission, Mohammad Sadiq, to the White House to offer condolences in person. He spoke to reporters with Sadiq by his side, in front of a fireplace in the Oval Office. Bush also said he called Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. "I told him that we want to help in any way we can," Bush said. "To that end we've already started to send cash money and other equipment and goods that are going to be needed to help to the people in Pakistan." Musharraf has asked other countries for help, particularly cargo helicopters to bypass roads that have been made impassible by mudslides. Bush suggested the U.S. might send resources already based in the region, perhaps in bordering Afghanistan. "One of the biggest concerns for the government of Pakistan is not enough airlift capacity to get to some of these rural areas where people are suffering," Bush said. "So we're moving choppers. (Defence) Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld is surveying the assets that he may be able to move in the area." The U.S.-led coalition and a separate NATO-led peacekeeping force have dozens of heavy-lift choppers and transport airplanes in Afghanistan. Many are based near Kabul, about 480 kilometres from areas worst hit by the earthquake. Military officials in Afghanistan said Sunday they had no plans yet to send their aircraft into Pakistan. Col. James Yonts, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said commanders in the United States have not instructed the force to help with quake relief. Bush did not take questions from reporters and did not specify how much cash the United States was sending. He added that many Americans will "be asking for the almighty God's blessings on the people of Pakistan." A State Department spokesman, Kurtis Cooper, said the eight helicopters are bringing relief supplies to remote areas of Pakistan. A C-17 military aircraft has been assigned to bring blankets, tents and other relief supplies, and a shipment of relief supplies via charter aircraft has been ordered. Other relief missions will follow, Cooper said. The U.S. also is sending a seven-person team to Pakistan to assess relief needs and to co-ordinate assistance, Cooper said. The U.S. Agency for International Development has contributed $500,000 to the American Red Cross for Pakistan relief. By Nadra Picker