USAID Provides $100,000 to Assist Flood Victims in Pakistan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2005
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $100,000 to USAID/Pakistan for the purchase and distribution of relief items, including emergency shelter materials, blankets, clothing, potable water, and water purification supplies. The assistance, coming from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) followed a disaster declaration issued by U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Ryan C. Crocker, on February 14.
Since February 3, extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and avalanches in northern Pakistan along with two weeks of heavy rains and flash floods in southwestern Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of more than 420 people in Balochistan Province, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), the federally administered Northern Areas, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
On February 10 and 13, heavy rains caused the Shadi Kor Dam near the coastal town of Pasni, and two smaller dams to burst in southwestern Balochistan Province. According to the Government of Pakistan (GOP), the resulting flash floods, as well as persistent flooding killed 250 people with 1,500 others reported missing. The floods also inundated 6 villages, damaged bridges and highways, and displaced approximately 40,000 people in Lasbela, Gwadar, Khuzdar, and Panjgur districts of Balochistan Province.
Furthermore, the GOP reported that nearly 200 people were killed in avalanches, flash floods, or by collapsing roofs in NWFP, the Northern Areas, and Kashmir. The GOP also acknowledged that casualty figures are not exact, as many areas remain inaccessible, and roads and communications systems have been badly disrupted.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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