Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri has presented gifts of dates, Zam Zam water and copies of the Holy Quran to children, who were admitted in the Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH) after being injured in the October 8 earthquake. The Rawalpindi Medical College Principal, Prof Musaddaq, and the RGH Medical Superintendent accompanied the ambassador during his visit to different wards of the facility. Asseri had a round of each and every bed of dozens of injured children and others at different wards and presented the gift. He kissed, hugged and expressed affection to the minor boys and girls in the presence of their elders. He spent an hour and a half inquiring about the patients' well-being at the RGH. While presenting the gift, the diplomat told the children that it was from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who prays for alleviation of their sufferings. "I am here to show the sympathy, love and affection for the suffering lot on behalf of the Saudi government," Asseri told the reporters at the RGH. "We will provide whatever is needed by Pakistan. Within a few hours of the quake, our team reached Pakistan to determine the requirements at this time of crisis," the ambassador said. Asseri said a 50-bed Saudi field hospital, specially flown in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia, which has 64 Saudi doctors and paramedical staff, has started functioning in Mansehra. It will be moved to any area where it will be required. The envoy said he has received abundant phone calls from people of Saudi Arabia, who have prayed for the mitigation of the sufferings of the quake victims. "We feel your pain, sufferings, loss and agony. We are one nation." Asseri said Saudi Arabia was transporting items to Pakistan that were really needed. "We have strong faith that we will overcome the tragedy very soon," he added. King Abdullah, the ambassador said, has instructed the Saudi finance ministry to provide funds for building infrastructure in the quake devastated areas. "He is very concerned." Asseri praised the prompt medical care being provided to the quake victims at the RGH and said the doctors and paramedical staff were performing a noble job.
