The United States is sending eight helicopters along with relief supplies to Pakistan to help the earthquake victims, US President George W. Bush said Sunday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Pakistani diplomats who briefed him on the devastation of the major earthquake, Bush said he had called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and expressed the United States' "deepest condolences."

"I told him that we want to help in any way we can. To that end we've already started to send cash money and other equipment, goods and immediate help to Pakistan," Bush said.

"One of the biggest concerns for the government of Pakistan is not enough airlift capacity to get to some of these rural areas where people are suffering," Bush said. "So we're moving choppers. Secretary Rumsfeld is surveying the assets that he may be able to move in the area."

The US State Department confirmed that as the first step of US relief efforts, the eight helicopters will bring much-needed relief supplies to remote areas of Pakistan and a seven-member US team will be dispatched to the country to help with relief assessment and coordination.

Source: Xinhua