The government of Australia has announced further assistance for the quake victims in Pakistan in view of the warning about the onset of harsh winter conditions. Australia has already provided more than 14 million dollars in assistance.

Prime Minister John Howard told Parliament on Wednesday that a 140-member Australian defence medical team would be sent to Pakistan, and added: "The medical team will leave for Pakistan by the end of the week."

"It is anticipated that it will be in Pakistan for approximately 90 days. The cost of this operation is in the order of 18 million dollars to 20 million dollars."

Copyright Pakistan Press International, 2005