Washington: More than 60 countries have
committed over USD 700 million in aid for Pakistan in
contrary to belief that international community is not coming
forward for the help of flood-affected people.
These countries would again be meeting on the margins
of the UN General Assembly session in New York next month to
take stock of the situation.
"So far, over 60 nations have committed more than USD
700 million, including the USD 200 million (from the US)," Dan
Feldman, Deputy Special Representative for Pakistan and
Afghanistan said.
India has contributed USD 5 million, which is being
routed through the United Nations aid relief effort. The UN,
which had called for USD 460 million aid, has received about
two-third of it from the international community.
But as the crisis response moves from this relief
phase to early recovery and then recovery and reconstruction
phases, the US has calculated that the needs were going to be
absolutely vast.
"We are going to continue to do our own assessments.
There`s also going to be ongoing assessments by the ADB, World
Bank: damage and needs assessment. As we get more and more of
that data, we will continue to work very actively with the
international community to ensure that we try to meet those
needs as best as possible," he said.
Several countries of the world, he said, have come
forward to provide helicopters.
"Afghanistan has provided four helicopters. Japan now
has three helicopters on the ground, three more en route. The
UAE has dispatched three helicopters as well as a C-130.
Turkey has contributed a C-130," he said.
NATO has started flying missions to deliver food,
relief supplies, using NATO-owned trainer cargo aircraft. NATO
delivered 8 million metric tons of relief supplies donated by
Slovakia last week.
"NATO`s now delivered - and this has been facilitated
through German government contributions and others.We continue
to work closely with them to make sure that these relief
supplies get there as quickly as possible," he said.
"Notable contributions just over the last week, not
only came from EU, Australia, Canada, Germany, but from other
OIC members, Algeria, Jordan, Uzbekistan, all announced new
contributions -- China, Russia," he said.
Carol Chan, Deputy Director, at US Office of Foreign
Assistance, said International relief organizations were
beginning to expand, gradually moving to Sindh and Punjab from
bases in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sindh is now becoming one of the major areas of
greatest need, he said.
PTI
