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

The United States has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan's call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that began July 29. This includes $150 million to support immediate relief efforts in Pakistan, through the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority, the UN’s emergency response plan, and many other local and international organizations. An additional $50 million has been allocated for initial recovery efforts to assist with rebuilding communities impacted by the floods. Therefore, the United States is now providing $200 million to assist with relief and recovery efforts, which does not include considerable in-kind and technical assistance specifically to address the impact of these floods.

We are also expanding pre-existing programs in flood-affected areas, providing temporary bridges, and mobilizing significant U.S. military and civilian resources to rescue victims of the disaster and deliver needed supplies. U.S. military and civilian aircraft continue to support flood relief operations. Through August 25, these aircraft have evacuated 8,010 people and delivered more than 1,800,000 pounds of relief supplies.

American business and private citizens are also making generous contributions to assist the people of Pakistan.

Latest Developments:

• USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah visited Pakistan August 24-26 to consult with the government and relief organizations on ways to expand and improve flood relief efforts. He announced August 25 that the U.S. is providing $50 million to support early recovery programs, such as rehabilitation of community infrastructure and livelihood recovery activities. This $50 million will be provided from funds as authorized under the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, known as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act.

• People in Pakistan are invited to share information and updates by SMS texting the word FLOODS to 7111. People using the country’s active Humari Awaz (“Our Voice”) cell phone network are able to update each other about the latest flood news, valuable NGO grant and business opportunities and to make new announcements of support by SMS texting the word FLOODS to 7111. The Humari Awaz social network was launched by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Government College Lahore during her visit to Pakistan in October 2009. Since the launch, the network’s subscribers collectively have sent over 350 million messages. To learn how to use Humari Awaz mobile users need only SMS the words "HELP" or "MADAD" to 7111

Significant U.S. Contributions To Date:

• An additional 1,000 rolls of plastic sheeting have been delivered to Pakistan, bringing the total of the shelter materials to 5,063 rolls. The plastic sheeting will provide temporary shelter for approximately 152,000 people.

• Three additional mobile water treatment units from arrived today, bringing the total to 9 now in Pakistan. U.S. water treatment units have produced more than 5.4 million liters of clean water since August 8.

• The US brought in an additional 40 Zodiac inflatable rescue boats, bringing the total to 58.

• On August 25, U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft, based from Afghanistan, delivered 53,430 pounds of food and relief supplies from Rawalpindi to Sukkur and Rajanpur.

• By August 24, the World Food Program (WFP) had provided almost 1.9 million flood-affected beneficiaries with more than 22,300 metric tons of life-saving food.

• The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which is partially funded by USAID, is providing 4.2 million packets of oral rehydration salts and 2.1 million zinc doses to female health workers conducting community-based management of diarrhea in children under five years of age in flood-affected areas.

• By August 24, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which the United States is supporting through the State Department, had assisted over 335,000 flood-affected beneficiaries with the provision of 20,000 tents, 78,000 plastic tarpaulins, 105,000 blankets, 75,500 sleeping mats, 43,000 jerry cans, 36,000 plastic buckets, 23,000 kitchen sets, 26 metric tons of soap, and 42,000 mosquito nets.

• USAID has committed $3.9 million to an NGO to support logistics and relief commodities, economic recovery and market systems, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities for flood-affected people in KPk and Sindh provinces.

• A total of 440,928 halal meals were delivered to civilian and military officials in Pakistan via U.S. Air Force airlift.

• Emergency relief items were delivered to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). In addition to the 58 Zodiac rescue boats, the items include: 9 water filtration units, 10 water storage bladders, 30 concrete-cutting saws, 12 pre-fabricated steel bridges and a 25kw generator which was provided to the Frontier Scouts-KPk to support their flood relief efforts.

Private Sector Response:

• Working with mGive, Americans are also 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.” A number of NGOs and companies have announced the establishment of trust funds or donations to the Prime Minister’s Fund.

• As Secretary Clinton announced August 18, the U.S. government, through the Department of State, has established the Pakistan Relief Fund for all to join in the tremendous relief, recovery and reconstruction effort. Individuals, corporations, and other organizations can send much needed help to the people of Pakistan by contributing to this fund at www.state.gov. In the U.S., individuals can send $10 through mobile phones by texting “FLOOD” to 27722.

• American Business Council members in the U.S. and Pakistan have announced contributions to flood relief efforts: Abbott Labs, Agility Logistics, AT&T, Becton Dickinson, Chevron Pakistan, Cisco Foundation, Coca-Cola Export Corporation & Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd., DuPont, EMC, Feros Sons Laboratories, Hadayat Sons, Johnson & Johnson, MDS Foods, Proctor and Gamble, Pfizer Pakistan, Silver Star Enterprises, 3M, Visa and Wackenhut Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.

• 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.

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. 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.

• A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for flood response efforts in Pakistan can be found at www.interaction.org. Information about organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan may be available at www.reliefweb.int.
• 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