WELLINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- New Zealand will contribute 1 million NZ dollars (750,000 US dollars) to the relief effort underway to help victims of a massive earthquake that has devastated parts of Pakistan and India, said government sources onMonday.

    Caretaker Aid Minister Marian Hobbs said the situation in Pakistan is very serious and there is a great need for the international community to assist in efforts to find the injured and care for the survivors.

    Hobbs said the aid of money would most likely be spent on essential supplies such as tents, blankets and medicines, which Pakistan had requested.

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) said the situationin Kashmir was still being monitored, but so far there were no reports of New Zealanders in trouble.

    The death toll from the quake, which struck on Saturday, has spiralled out to an estimated 20,000, mainly in the Kashmir regionof Pakistan. Enditem