The United States announced it will provide an additional 20 million $ in aid to Pakistan's flood ravaged areas, bringing the total financial assistance to date from the U.S. to 76 million $.
The U.S. Agency for International Development is using the new funding to expand existing programs and activities through flood-affected regions of the country, including the south where there has been lighter humanitarian presence until now. U.S. military helicopters supporting relief and rescue operations have rescued approximately 3,000 people and transported over 322,000 pounds of relief supplies.
A Boeing 747 delivered 1,100 rolls of plastic sheeting and 14,000 blankets. The sheeting will benefit approximately 11,000 families in the heavily flooded area of Punjab Province. To date, the U.S. has supplied a month’s ration of food to about 181,000 people through our partnership with the World Food Program.
Working with "mGive," a non-profit organization that facilitates mobile phone donations, people in the United States are contributing to flood relief by texting the word "SWAT" to "50555." The text will result in a donation of $10 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Pakistan Flood Relief Effort. Every $10 helps provide tents and emergency aid to displaced families. The government of Pakistan and the Pakistan cellular phone industry are inviting Pakistanis to contribute to the Prime Minister's Fund for Flood Relief beginning August 5th by texting the amount of their donation to "1234."
The Lahore-based American business Forum has collected donations from: Coca-Cola, Environment Consultancies & Options, Levi Strauss Pakistan, Kabani & Company, General Electric, Monsanto AgriTech, Al-Bario Engineering, and Nestol Technologies. Proctor and Gamble donated $455,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, including 4 million PUR water purification tablets. And the global U.S. health company Abbott Labs has committed $83,000 in cash and in-kind donations for flood victims.
The U.S. is coordinating closely with Pakistani authorities to support rescue and relief efforts. The U.S. will continue to work with the government of Pakistan to ensure aid reaches those people who need it most.
The U.S. is coordinating closely with Pakistani authorities to support rescue and relief efforts.
