Press Release No. 05/221

Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato on Earthquake Disaster in Pakistan, North India and the Islamic State of Afghanistan

October 8, 2005

Mr. Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), made the following statement today in Washington, D.C. regarding the earthquake affecting Pakistan, north India and Afghanistan:

"On behalf of the International Monetary Fund, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and to the people and governments of those countries affected by the earthquake that has struck the region northeast of Islamabad.

"We have learnt with great sadness of initial reports of large numbers of casualties following the earthquake which has struck the region northeast of Islamabad and which has affected the Islamic State of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.

"I am confident that action by the international community will support the efforts of the affected nations to respond to these natural disasters. The IMF stands ready to do its part to assist these nations with appropriate support."