NETHERLANDS/PAKISTAN: DUTCH WILL PROVIDE FIELD

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002892 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI/REITER USEU FOR LERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PK NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/PAKISTAN: DUTCH WILL PROVIDE FIELD HOSPITAL, TENTS AND CASH REF: A. STATE 195483 ¶B. THE HAGUE 2860 ¶1. Emboffs delivered reftel A points to Director of Humanitarian Affairs and Pakistan relief coordinator Joost Andriessen, as well as Western Hemisphere department staff. ¶2. Andriessen told econoff the Netherlands had pledged 17 million Euros (USD 20.5 million) "so far." He did not rule out a further pledge at the donors' conference, where the GONL will be represented by their permrep to the UN Office at Geneva. In addition to the cash, the Dutch will provide a mobile army field hospital and 80 medical staff to Pakistan (ref B) for three months. The Netherlands will also donate 500 10-person tents, stoves and camp beds to the Pakistani government. ¶3. The Netherlands' well organized and influential NGO community has also launched a national fundraising campaign for earthquake victims. A benefit hockey game and telethon is scheduled for October 26. Still, this disaster has not captured the public's attention like the Asian tsunami did and private donations will almost certainly be fewer. BLAKEMAN