Sean Penn visits Pak flood survivors

Islamabad: Hollwyood star Sean Penn is on a private visit to Pakistan to meet survivors of 2011 floods and to interact with civil society groups and NGOs involved in welfare activities.

After spending time with flood victims in Badin area of southern Sindh province yesterday, Penn visited the home run by famous activist Abdul Sattar Edhi in Karachi today. Penn was a part of an eight-member delegation of US diplomats and officials who visited Badin and toured flood-hit areas of the district. The people shared stories of losing their homes in the deluge with the two-time Oscar winner, media reports said. The star visited Karim Bux Jamali and Dargah Shah Gurio villages and handed out blankets, quilts, kitchen items and other goods among the people. Later, the delegation distributed relief goods at a village near Peero Lashari. At Anwar Jamali village, Penn visited a camp for members of the minority Hindu minority and inquired about post-flood conditions. Penn mingled with members of the Kohli community and asked them about health and education facilities available for their children. He listened attentively as people told him about how rains and floods destroyed their crops and left them homeless, The Express Tribune reported. Misri Kolhi, the only literate man in the community, said he was thankful to the US delegation for its assistance. "We have lost everything during the floods and are unable to earn an income as our brick factories are still submerged in knee-deep water," he said. Penn refused to talk to the media, saying the purpose of his visit was solely to interact with the flood victims. The star is known for his social activism and humanitarian work, having contributed to helping the victims of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. American officials told reporters that the US had provided goods worth over 25 million dollars for Pakistan`s flood victims. USAID has distributed 60,000 emergency shelters and health clinics which provided medical treatment to over a million people. PTI