Washington: The United States has formed a joint aviation coordination cell to streamline air operations to support flood relief operations in Pakistan.
"We have formed a joint aviation coordination cell aimed at streamlining air operations supporting Pakistan`s flood relief efforts," State Department spokesman P J Crowley
said here.
So far the US has delivered almost 2.8 million pounds of relief supplies and evacuated almost 9,500 people, he said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
featured in a series of television and radio public service
announcements (PSA) released by the Ad Council.
Clinton in these announcements encourages donations to
the Pakistan Relief Fund.
Since the flooding in Pakistan began just over a month
ago, more than 20 million people throughout the country have
been affected.
"These PSAs will direct audiences from around the
world to visit www.state.gov, where they can donate to the
fund through a secure online donation page. And of course,
Americans can also donate by texting the word `FLOOD` to
27722," Crowley said.
Created by the US government through the Department of
State, the fund serves as a platform to raise the profile of
fundraising efforts and to bring together people from around the world to help make donations.
In her message Secretary Clinton says, "now is a time
for our shared humanity to move us to help. That is why the
United States government through the Department of State has
established the Pakistan Relief Fund for all Americans to join
in this tremendous relief, recovery and reconstruction
effort."
The Pakistan Relief Fund contributions will go towards
funding programs run by the Department of State and other
federal agencies for relief, recovery and reconstruction
efforts in Pakistan, or to provide funds to international
organisations, non-profit organisations and other appropriate
recipients for relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in
Pakistan.
Several companies have donated production and digital
distribution services for the new PSAs and Getty Images
donated images of the Pakistan floods that are featured in the
television and Web ads, an official media statement said.
PTI
