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

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

September 4, 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. This includes $167 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 Government is now providing $217 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. The U.S. also has provided civilian and military in-kind assistance in the form of halal meals, pre-fabricated steel bridges and other infrastructure support, as well as air support to and within Pakistan to transport goods and rescue people at an approximate value of approximately $26 million.* Through September 2, these aircraft have evacuated 10,664 people and delivered more than 3,062, 320 pounds of relief supplies.

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

Latest Developments:

• On September 2, five US military helicopters conducted relief operations in the Upper Swat Valley, rescuing 613 people and transporting 132,320 pounds of flood relief supplies.
• Today, six helicopters based in Ghazi conducted flood assistance operations in the upper Swat Valley. Four helicopters conducted flood assistance operations in Sindh. Four US military C-130s transported flood relief supplies to Quetta, Sukkur, Skardu, and Jacobabad. One US military KC-130 transported flood relief supplies to Skardu.

Selected 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 over 5,000 rolls. The plastic sheeting will provide temporary shelter for approximately 152,000 people.
• Seven additional mobile water treatment units arrived August 26, bringing the total to 13 now in Pakistan. US-provided water treatment units have produced more than 7.5 million liters of clean drinking water and are currently capable of producing more than 1.3 million liters of clean water a day.
• On September 1, the U.S. launched a new program to provide 21 days of work to approximately 4,800 households in Swat that will help quickly infuse cash into local economies and repair flood-damaged infrastructure.
• The US brought in an additional 40 Zodiac inflatable rescue boats, bringing the total to 58.
• As of August 31, WFP Pakistan and partners have reached nearly 3 million beneficiaries with more than 34,000 metric tons of food. The U.S. has provided $51.5 million in food assistance to date.
• By September 1, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which the United States is supporting through the State Department, had assisted over 370,000 flood-affected beneficiaries around Pakistan. In Kyhber Pakhtunkhwa province alone, UNHCR has distributed over 20,800 tents, 65,000 plastic sheets, 149,000 blankets, 99,000 sleeping mats, 49,000 quilts, 49,000 jerry cans, 50,000 plastic buckets, 24,000 kitchen sets, 37 metric tons of soap, and 49,000 mosquito nets to the flood-affected population.

Private Sector Response:

• To date, the private sector has donated $8.39 million in contributions to flood relief efforts. American Business Council members in the U.S. and Pakistan that have contributed include: 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.) In addition, 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.
• 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.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• *The in-kind figure is not included in the calculation of the current USG total. It is an estimate of costs to date. The amount will be adjusted as additional information becomes available.