Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

August 13, 2010

The 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, approximately $76 million in assistance is being provided by the U.S. to flood-affected populations in Pakistan. We are also providing additional assistance through the expansion of pre-existing programs and humanitarian activities in flood-affected areas and mobilizing significant U.S. military resources to deliver supplies and rescue victims of the disaster. U.S. helicopters have evacuated 4,000 people and delivered 400,000 pounds of relief supplies

Our response has been consistent with our humanitarian values and our deep commitment to Pakistan. Support includes both financial assistance and the immediate provision of urgently needed supplies and services, drawing on unique U.S. capabilities and resources.

Latest Developments:

• Two additional U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and one U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter arrived at Ghazi Air Base in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief efforts. The three aircraft are part of the contingent of 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan on August 11 by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

• The U.S. helicopters, which began humanitarian assistance operations in Pakistan August 5, were able to fly limited relief sorties today because of poor weather conditions. However, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters transported 6,000 pounds of relief supplies.

U.S. Contributions To Date:

• To date, the U.S. has supplied a month’s ration of food to about 181,000 people through our partnership with the World Food Program.
  
• The United States announced additional humanitarian contributions for flood-affected communities in Pakistan on August 12, including $11.25 million for UNHCR and $5 million for ICRC. U.S. funds will be used to expand existing emergency programs in all flood-affected parts of Pakistan.
  
• The U.S. is providing $3 million to WHO for the expansion of Pakistan’s Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) nationwide and to establish the first 15 treatment centers for water-borne illness, located in high risk flood-affected areas.
  
• The U.S. is providing $4.1 million for food vouchers that enable flood victims to purchase food in their local markets.
  
• To date, U.S. military helicopters have evacuated 3,090 people and delivered 328,340 pounds of relief supplies.
  
• Through August 12, seven U.S. helicopters assigned to the Pakistani Ministry of Interior’s 50^th Squadron rescued 1019 people, airlifted 78,473 pounds of supplies and engaged in other support missions.
  
• More than 1,100 rolls of plastic sheeting and 14,000 blankets arrived in Islamabad Tuesday. The plastic sheeting will benefit approximately 11,100 families or 66,000 people. The materials will be transported to Punjab Province for distribution in the heavily-flooded area.
  
• A total of 440,928 halal meals were delivered to civilian and military officials in Pakistan, a contribution of about $3.7 million dollars.
  
• Emergency relief items were delivered to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Peshawar, including 18 Zodiac rescue boats, 6 water filtration units, 10 water storage bladders and 30 concrete-cutting saws valued at $746,000.
  
• Twelve pre-fabricated steel bridges, valued at $3.2 million, have been made available as temporary replacements for highway bridges damaged by flooding in Peshawar and Kurram Agency. A 25kw generator, costing approximately $30,000, was provided to the Frontier Scouts-KPk to support their flood relief efforts.

Private Sector Response:

• 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, Agility Logistics, AT&T, Chevron Pakistan, Cisco Foundation, Coca-cola Export Corporation & Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd., DuPont, EMC, Johnson & Johnson, P&G, Pfizer Pakistan, 3M, Visa and Wackenhut Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
  
• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KPCCI) announced a pilot cash-for-work project to help flood victims rebuild 300 houses in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda. If successful, it will be expanded to rebuild as many as 5,000 homes.
  
• 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.
  
• Proctor and Gamble donated $455,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, including 4 million PUR water purification tablets, which are especially effective in making flood water potable.
  
• The global U.S. health company Abbott Labs has committed $83,000 in cash and in-kind donations for flood victims.

Public Donation Information:

• The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for flood response efforts in Pakistan can be found at www.interaction.org. Information on organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan may be available at www.reliefweb.int.
• 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.
  
• 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

Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.int