International community comes to Pakistan's rescue

Millions of dollars are donated towards flood relief as the internat­ional community contributes to the crisis.

Millions in monetary aid have been donated towards flood relief as the international community continues to contribute to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan.

The British public donated four million pounds towards helping the relief effort for the millions of flood victims in the country. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) described the response to a TV appeal aired less than 48 hours ago as 'fantastic'.

Chief executive DEC, Brendan Gormley has said despite the tough economic times, the British public has been extremely generous.

Gormley said the donations will have a real and immediate impact on people who have been affected by the flooding.

Around 300,000 people have received emergency care, clean water, food or shelter as a result of British aid, said Gormley.

France weighs in

France will raise its humanitarian aid to assist some 15 million people affected by monsoon floods in Pakistan from 300,000 euros to 1.05 million euros.

French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages says 550,000 euros will go to relief groups working on the ground and  350,000 euros will be provided as food aid through the UN's World Food Programme.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will receive 150,000 euros for its work in the country.

Fages said the foreign ministry would also send water-purifying equipment to Pakistan.

(Updated from print edition)

$110 million worth of aid received

The international community has sent 110 million dollars worth of aid so far to help with relief efforts for the flood victims.

The US government has given $35 million and the United Nations has donated $10 million. The United Kingdom has sent $10 million for flood relief and another $10 million for repairing various barrages.

Australia has given $10 million, China $1.47 million, the European Union $39.6 million, Germany $1.2 million, the Netherlands $1.3 million and Denmark $2 million.

Some countries have also provided relief materials. The US has donated cooked halal food, inflatable boats and water purification plants. China has provided tents, power generators and water purification plants.

Saudi Arabia has sent in two plane-loads of relief goods. Indonesia has provided 60 tons of food items. Italy has given water purification plants, water tanks and 3,000 jerry cans. Qatar has provided 17 tons of medicine, food packets and blankets. Turkey has also provided relief items, including sleeping bags and kitchen utensils, while Spain has donated tents and hygiene kits.

International organisations are continuing rescue efforts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. “We have started airlifting people who are stranded. We are also using on ground support, people are using mules and carts. We will use whatever we can to transport food and any other life support assistance ,” said World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Amir Abdulla.

The military continued its  relief operation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.  Soldiers evacuated more than 100,000 people who were marooned in different areas of the country and shifted them to safer places, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release.

Efforts are under way to restore communication infrastructure in the Swat Valley and repair the Karakoram Highway. “Four foot bridges have been made functional at Madyan, Kalam and Bahrain,” the statement added. Special mobile medical teams are working in collaboration with local health authorities to provide first aid to the survivors, the army said. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2010.