27 August 2010
U.S. Aid Director Reports “Astronomical” Damage in Pakistan
Washington — Urging much more relief assistance for Pakistani flood victims, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah said that during his recent visit to the country he could see that “the scale and the scope of this natural disaster is astronomical.”
Shah spoke in Washington August 27 after returning from an August 24–26 visit to Pakistan, where he consulted with government officials and relief organizations on expanding and improving flood relief efforts. Shah said that while in Pakistan, he was able to see some of the flooding’s tragic aftermath firsthand.
More than 20 million Pakistanis have been affected by the flooding, and Shah said perhaps more than 9 million of those need immediate humanitarian support such as food, clean drinking water, medicine and shelter.
“This is a core global humanitarian imperative and we need more international support,” Shah said.
“There is no question that right now more can be done and that resources spent on immediate relief will save lives, feed people who need food and help keep children from experiencing long-term morbidity from diarrhea and a range of other illnesses.”
The country also faces urgent assistance needs because 23 percent of Pakistan’s most productive cropland has been submerged by the flooding in the Indus River Valley, and it could remain waterlogged for some time, Shah said. Many seed stocks for the coming planting season have been lost, and the damage to the country’s overall economy could be severe, given that Pakistan’s agricultural sector had provided employment for more than 60 percent of its population.
Shah had announced in Pakistan August 25 that the Obama administration is providing $50 million from funding allocated under the 2009 Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act to support early flood recovery programs, such as rehabilitation of community infrastructure and livelihood recovery activities. That funding brings the total amount of U.S. immediate humanitarian assistance in response to the flooding to more than $200 million, in addition to in-kind and technical assistance such as the use of U.S. aircraft to rescue flood victims and deliver relief supplies.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, since the flooding began at the end of July, U.S. civilian and military aircraft have evacuated at least 8,010 people and delivered more than 1.8 million pounds (816,466 kilos) of relief supplies in the most remote areas of Pakistan where relief convoys cannot travel overland.
Nine U.S. mobile water-treatment units are now in Pakistan, and the embassy said U.S. water-production units have so far provided 5.4 million liters of safe drinking water.
The World Food Programme has reached more than 1.9 million flood-affected people with approximately 22,300 metric tons of food aid, according to the embassy. Approximately 50 percent of that assistance was provided by the United States.
Shah said that while he was able to see that more assistance is arriving in Pakistan, “when you look at the scope of what needs to be done here … we need more resources and support from inside Pakistan and outside Pakistan in order to be successful.”
U.S.-based callers can help with relief efforts by texting “FLOOD” to the number 27722, which will contribute a $10 donation to the State Department’s Pakistan Relief Fund. In addition, by texting “SWAT” to the number 50555, U.S.-based callers can make a $10 contribution that will help the United Nations provide the Pakistani people with tents, clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. Donors everywhere can find more information and lists of relief organizations operating in Pakistan through the State Department website.
The State Department has invited the Pakistani people to use the Humari Awaz (“Our Voice”) social network to share information and updates by texting “FLOODS” to 7111. Through the Pakistan-based mobile phone network, they can update each other about the latest flood news and valuable grant and business opportunities, and make new announcements of support. The network was launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her visit to Pakistan in October 2009, and subscribers since have sent more than 350 million messages. To learn how to use Humari Awaz, Pakistani mobile users should text “HELP” or “MADAD” to 7111.
Shah said Pakistan’s long-term needs will be assessed after the extent of the damage can be determined, but he predicted that the country will need significant resources and partners in the international community in recovery and reconstruction efforts.
He said there will be an obvious reprogramming of more of the $7.5 billion in U.S. civilian assistance that was authorized by the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act.
“Our mission team in the embassy is looking pretty broadly at how to best move forward with a real focus on doing those things that generate the highest rates of return,” Shah said. But, he added, “this flood only intensifies our immediate response and our commitment to that long-term process.”
(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)
