U.S. Continues Flood Relief Aid for Pakistan

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 23, 2010 - U.S. military and other government and nongovernment organizations continue to assist Pakistani citizens battling the effects of massive floods that began July 29.

To date, according to a fact sheet issued today by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, the United States is providing about $150 million to support flood relief efforts in Pakistan, including funding for the operations of the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority, the U.N.'s emergency relief plan, and the many local and international organizations responding to this disaster.

These funds are being used to provide critical supplies to Pakistani citizens impacted by the flood. The United States also is providing millions of dollars of additional in-kind and technical assistance.

U.S.-provided aid to Pakistan also includes the expansion of pre-existing programs in flood-affected areas, providing temporary bridges, and mobilizing significant U.S. military and civilian resources to rescue victims of the disaster and deliver needed supplies.

U.S. military and civilian aircraft continue to support flood relief operations. Through Aug. 22, these aircraft have evacuated 7,835 people and delivered more than 1.6 million pounds of relief supplies.

In other recent developments:

-- On Aug. 22, U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft, based from Afghanistan, delivered 79,000 pounds of food and relief supplies yesterday from Rawalpindi to Sukkur and Multan.

-- The World Food Program has reached more than 1.3 million flood-affected beneficiaries with almost 16,000 metric tons of food assistance, about 50 percent of which is provided by the United States.

-- The U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Food for Peace has provided the World Food Program with an additional $32.3 million for local and regional procurement of food, bringing the U.S. total contribution to WFP to more than $51 million.

-- Since Aug. 8, U.S. water treatment units have provided approximately 4.8 million liters of safe drinking water to Pakistani citizens.