Brussels: NATO is deploying two more
aircraft to flood-hit Pakistan with more than 100 tonnes of
relief goods including power generators, boats and baby food,
the alliance said on Friday.
An Antonov 124 transport aircraft was scheduled to take
off from Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany today with 100
tonnes of relief goods, including power generators and water
tanks donated by Germany.
The 28-nation alliance, which is fighting Taliban
insurgents in neighbouring Afghanistan, said the
Islamabad-bound plane was also taking baby food donated by a
non-governmental organisation.
At the weekend, a Trainer Cargo Aircraft will leave
Geilenkirchen airbase in Germany with 16 tonnes of
humanitarian goods donated by NGOs, including more power
generators, boats, food and clothing, NATO said.
NATO members decided last week to provide air and sea
lifts for aid donated by nations and NGOs following a request
from Islamabad.
A first cargo plane with aid donated by Slovakia was
deployed last weekend.
It is the second time NATO has engaged in relief efforts
in Pakistan, following the 2005 earthquake, which killed more
than 73,000 people and left around 3.5 million homeless.
For nearly a month, torrential monsoon rain has triggered
massive floods steadily moving from north to south, affecting
a fifth of the volatile country -- an area roughly the size of
England -- and 17 million people.
PTI
