US Congress delegation visits flood-hit areas

US will be an effective and consistent partner in helping Pakistan, says congresswoman

A delegation of the US Congress visited the flood-affected regions of Pakistan and ‘brought hope’ that the US would be a 'consistent partner' in helping Pakistan through the crisis.  

Congresswoman Sheila stated that this was the “first US delegation to visit the most devastating and deadly flooding in Pakistani history”, deeming the inundation a “flood of historic proportion”.

As far as the eye could see, I saw water; we were the first US delegation to visit the most devastating and deadly flooding in Pakistani history. A flood of historic proportion, really a monster of a disaster. pic.twitter.com/I7SnnIbcED

— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) September 4, 2022

“As far as the eye could see, I saw water,” she added.

The delegation - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congressman Tom - was briefed by military rescuers, and met and listened to local people who had “experienced the raging deadly waters”. 

I was joined by Congresman Tom Suozzi of New York as we were briefed by the military rescuers. We saw people still racing to helicopters to be rescued as well as met and listened to the men, women and children who experienced the raging deadly waters. pic.twitter.com/5DS2JXKDAt

— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) September 4, 2022

She highlighted that with entire villages underwater, 33 million Pakistanis were impacted by the floods and almost 70,000 women were expected to give birth “potentially without medical care”.

With whole villages underwater, 33 million Pakistanis are affected and almost 70,000 women are expected to give birth potentially without medical care. pic.twitter.com/5usad1Uuz0

— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) September 4, 2022

“Our delegation brought hope that the United States will be an effective and consistent partner in helping Pakistan work through this human crises!” she stated, adding that humanity was under attack.

Our delegation brought hope that the United States will be an effective and consistent partner in helping Pakistan work through this human crises! How frightening! Humanity is under attack! pic.twitter.com/IDdJZutehE

— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) September 4, 2022

US ‘saddened’

Earlier, the United States said it was "saddened" by the floods in Pakistan as the country reeled from the most devastating floods in decades.

Read World shows solidarity with Pakistan

In a tweet, Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State Vedant Patel said the United States was “saddened” by the devastating floods in Pakistan and further offered assistance to the flood victims.

He also stated the United States stands with Pakistan at this challenging time and further stressed “building climate resilience all over the world.”

Monetary assistance

The US embassy in an earlier statement said that Washington would provide $30 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to support people and communities affected by severe flooding in Pakistan through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

“In response to the Pakistani government’s request for assistance, the United States will prioritise urgently needed food support, safe water, sanitation and hygiene improvements, financial help, and shelter assistance,” the statement said.