The United States will provide up to US$50 million (¤41 million) for earthquake relief and reconstruction, the U.S. ambassador said Monday. "The magnitude of this disaster is utterly overwhelming," Ambassador Ryan Crocker said. "We have under way the beginning of a very major relief effort." Crocker spoke at an airport on the arrival of a U.S. transport plane carrying blankets, plastic sheets and other supplies for 2,500 families affected by the massive earthquake that struck on Saturday, killing thousands. Another U.S. plane carrying relief supplies arrived late Sunday. More planes were expected. "The United States is providing an initial contribution of up to US$50 million for relief and reconstruction following the earthquake that struck on Oct. 8," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. The U.S. military plans to deploy eight helicopters from Afghanistan to help with earthquake relief in neighboring Pakistan, The Associated Press reported.
