Hillary Clinton's State Department Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

This is a monumental disaster taking many lives, and ruining many more among people who did not have it so well to begin with. Add to that a reluctance on the part of many of our global neighbors to contribute another euro, yen, peso, what have you to help due to corrupt channeling of funds in the past. Secretary Clinton's State Department reassesses the situation and issues regular updates on what we as Americans are doing to help. Here is the latest update on a country a third of which has been devastated by flooding that will probably grow worse before this is over.

Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

August 16, 2010

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The United States has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan's call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that began July 29. To date, approximately $76 million in assistance is being provided by the U.S. to flood-affected populations in Pakistan.

We are also providing additional assistance through the expansion of pre-existing programs and humanitarian activities in flood-affected areas and mobilizing significant U.S. military resources to deliver supplies and rescue victims of the disaster. There are currently 18 U.S. military and civilian aircraft in Pakistan in support of flood relief operations. U.S. helicopters have evacuated 4613 people and delivered 515,113 pounds of relief supplies.

America’s response to this tragic flood has been consistent with our humanitarian values and our deep commitment to Pakistan. Support includes both financial assistance and the immediate provision of urgently needed supplies and services, drawing on unique U.S. capabilities and resources.

Latest Developments:

• Four U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters arrived in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief efforts. There are now 18 U.S. military and civilian aircraft operating throughout the country’s flood-affected areas in partnership with Pakistan’s military. An additional 8 helicopters will arrive over the next few days.

• The U.S. Air Force also is providing C-130 aircraft support, based from Afghanistan, to help deliver international aid throughout Pakistan. Two C-130s are expected to transport an estimated 52,000 pounds of relief supplies today.

• Two shipments of heavy-duty waterproof plastic sheeting to be used in construction of temporary shelter arrived in Karachi over the past two days. These latest 770 rolls brings the total of plastic sheeting rolls delivered to Pakistan to 1,870 and can be expected to construct shelter for 112,000 people. Some 14,000 blankets also arrived last week.

U.S. Contributions To Date:

• To date, the U.S. has supplied a month’s emergency food rations to more than 307,000 people through our partnership with the World Food Program.
  
• The United States has made contributions for flood-affected communities in Pakistan, including $17.9 million for WFP, $11.25 million for UNHCR, $8.3 million for IOM, $5 million for ICRC, $3 million to WHO, $3 million to UNICEF, and $4.1 million for Save the Children (SCF).
  
• A total of 440,928 halal meals were delivered to civilian and military officials in Pakistan within 36 hours of the initial flooding via U.S. Air Force airlift, a contribution of about $3.7 million dollars.
  
• Emergency relief items, totaling about $4 million, were delivered to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The items include: 18 Zodiac rescue boats, 6 water filtration units, 10 water storage bladders, 30 concrete-cutting saws and 12 pre-fabricated steel bridges. A 25kw generator was provided to the Frontier Scouts-KPk to support their flood relief efforts.

Private Sector Response:

• Working with mGive, Americans are contributing to Pakistan flood relief by texting the word “SWAT” to 50555. The text results in a donation of $10 to the UNHCR 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 5 by texting the amount of their donation to “1234.”
  
• American Business Council members in the U.S. and Pakistan have announced contributions to flood relief efforts: Abbott Labs, Agility Logistics, AT&T, Chevron Pakistan, Cisco Foundation, Coca-cola Export Corporation & Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd., DuPont, EMC, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor and Gamble, Pfizer Pakistan, 3M, Visa and Wackenhut Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
  
• 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 Netsol Technologies.

Public Donation Information:

• The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Cash donations allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.
  
• A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for flood response efforts in Pakistan can be found at www.interaction.org. Information about organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan may be available at www.reliefweb.int.
  
• More information can be found at:

o www.state.gov/pakistanflooding
o USAID: www.usaid.gov/pakistanflooding
o The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914

Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.int