Sunday, October 9 2005 10:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Acting swiftly, the United Kingdom and the European Union yesterday (Oct 08, 2005) offered emergency aid to help victims of the earthquake, which hit India, Pakistan and Afghanistan killing thousands of people.

Britain announced an initial aid package of 100,000 pounds to help victims of the earthquake in southern Asia.

Besides donating 100,000 pounds, Britain is sending 50 relief workers to provide aid in the region, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw announced.

Several UK charities are now on standby to send aid into the region.

As casualty figures rose, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said up to three million euros could be approved within a day if requested by agencies working on the ground. "We are all hoping that the news does not get steadily worse as the day progresses but we are fearful that the casualty figures may mount and that international support may be needed," EU aid commissioner Louis Michel said in Brussels.

A spokesman said the commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) was in touch with two organizations, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Netherlands and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about the crisis.

"It depends on what these organizations tell us they need," said spokesman Amadeu Altafaj, stressing that the two organizations were chosen because they are already on the ground.

Fire service search and rescue teams from Grampian, Lincolnshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire left for the region tonight at the request of the Fire Service Inspectorate.

Lincolnshire is sending a search and rescue dog team.

Straw who is MP for Blackburn in Lancashire, said the disaster would have strong impact on British communities.

"All of us are shocked whenever news like this comes through, wherever the disaster is taking place.

"But in this particular case, because so many people in this country, so many of my own constituents hail from Pakistan, or their families do, of course the anxiety and the shock is even greater," he said.

Straw said so far there was no news of any British casualties in the region.

The Pakistan High Commission has opened their central London office to issue visas to those who have lost relatives in Pakistan.

Defence Secretary John Reid, who returned from the area yesterday, expressed 'shock and regret' at the disaster.

"Having returned from this region only yesterday, following a visit designed to strengthen our countries, work on counter-terrorism, my thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected by this tragedy," he said.