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Pakistan

Pakistan: British commandos to help build shelters in quake-hit areas: Ingram

British Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram has said a specialist party of Commando Engineers will provide vital and timely support to thousands of homeless families in quake-devastated district Bagh.

British Commandos are to help those made homeless by the earthquake to rebuild their homes for winter, said the Defence Ministry sources.

Eighty six members of 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers and 42 Commando Royal Marines, trained to operate in mountains and cold weather conditions, had left their Devon afew days back.

Commandos will help to construct family shelters and medical facilities in high altitude villages before heavy winter snows.

"We are pleased to be able to offer our highly trained specialist troops to the relief effort in Bagh, which has been badly affected by the earthquake," said Adam Ingram.

He said the troops of 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers supported by 42 Commando Royal Marines will be away from their families this Christmas, lending a helping hand to those in desperate need before the onset of a freezing winter in Bagh.

"I am confident, the willingness, flexibility, and professionalism of the UK Armed Forces will make a significant contribution in providing much needed emergency shelter in time for winter."

Major Nigel Cribb, Commanding Officer of 59 Commando said "The construction of winterised shelters in high altitude villages is a vital task if people who survived the earthquake are now to survive the harsh winter. This task is ideally suited to commando engineers who are trained to operate in cold weather and mountainous terrain."

Meanwhile it is recalled that Britain has so far pledged pounds 128 million for the relief and reconstruction of the quake-ravaged areas