Pakistan Flood Response: Asia Society Event
Office of the SpokesmanWashington, DC
August 17, 2010Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah, and other international figures will be participating in an exclusive discussion hosted by the Asia Society prior to the United Nations Special Session on Pakistan on Thursday, August 19. Leaders of critical international humanitarian relief organizations will also discuss ways to help.
WHEN: Thursday, August 19, 8:30 am. This event will be webcast live at AsiaSociety.org/live beginning at 8:30 am EST.
WHERE: The Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
The event is open press. Please contact Stephanie Hoo for more information:
Stephanie Hoo
Senior Press Officer
Asia Society
212.327.9295
email: shoo@asiasociety.org
http://asiasociety.org/More information on relief efforts can be found at www.state.gov/pakistanflooding. Community members interested in giving immediate assistance can text the word “SWAT” to 50555 to contribute $10 to UNHCR's life-saving flood relief efforts on the ground.
# # #
Here is the latest fact sheet - just in.
Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster
Office of the SpokesmanWashington, DC
August 17, 2010The 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, the United States has provided approximately $90 million to support relief efforts in Pakistan, including funding for the operations of the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority, the UN’s emergency relief plan, and the many local and international organizations responding to this disaster. These funds are also being used to provide critical supplies to flood affected populations.
The U.S. is also providing millions of dollars of additional in-kind and technical assistance. We are expanding 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. There currently are 18 U.S. military and civilian aircraft in Pakistan and three aircraft based in Afghanistan in support of flood relief operations. U.S. helicopters have evacuated 4,988 people and delivered 524, 213 pounds of relief supplies.
America’s response to this tragic flood has been consistent with our humanitarian values and our deep commitment to Pakistan.
Latest Developments:U.S. Contributions To Date:
- U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft, based from Afghanistan, delivered 8 pallets of food and relief supplies from Rawalpindi to Sukkur and Multan today.
Private Sector Response:
- To date, the World Food Program (WFP) has reached 845,033 beneficiaries in Pakistan, and more than 50 percent of food provided to flood-affected families has been provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through WFP.
- The United States has made up to $30 million in commitments to international organizations and NGOs in support of flood-affected communities across the country. Examples include $11.25 million for UNHCR, $5 million for ICRC and $3 million to WHO.
- 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.
- The U.S. has delivered 1,870 rolls of heavy-duty waterproof plastic sheeting to be used in construction of temporary dry shelter. The sheeting materials are expected to construct shelter for 112,000 people. Some 14,000 blankets were also brought along with a shipment, a total contribution of $977,495.
- 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, 12 pre-fabricated steel bridges and a 25kw generator which was provided to the Frontier Scouts-KPk to support their flood relief efforts.
Public Donation Information:
- 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.
Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.int
- 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:
- www.state.gov/pakistanflooding
- USAID: www.usaid.gov/pakistanflooding
- The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914
