More rains hit Pakistan as aid agencies boost relief efforts Video
Donors begin reaching Pakistan with aid. On Sunday, August 8, another bout of heavy rains added to the burden of the country's already worst-ever floods, which have affected over 15 million and claimed more than 1,600 lives. Additional fatalities were reported as landslides pummeled northern regions and the entire northwestern Swat valley as well as parts of Punjab and Sindh, which were isolated.
(Pushto language)
Ajmal, 16 years old (M): Flood waters came at 3 am. All we could do was save ourselves. Most of our stuff is buried under the rubble and our house is destroyed.
Witnessing the devastation in some areas he visited, Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani requested international aid, saying that the disasters had become too vast for the government to handle. International neighbors have thus responded, with countries such as Germany doubling her contributions to ?2 million, while the French and Malaysian governments each donated US$1.4 million and US$1 million respectively. In a response to a television appeal by several UK-based humanitarian aid agencies, the British public sent £4 million in addition to 2,000 all-weather tents, while a £10 million donation was made personally from British ministers. The US is donating US$10 million and has sent six helicopters to assist with rescue and relief efforts, while His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has also sent eight planes of humanitarian aid thus far. Sri Lanka has also dispatched a plane carrying about 18,000 kilograms of dry food rations, while the United Arab Emirates, through the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's charitable foundation has also begun the distribution of tents, food and medical supplies throughout several affected provinces.
(English)
Amir Abdulla, Deputy Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP): They [the floods] have devastated the infrastructure. Roads have been washed away, bridges have been washed away. To reach the people who are in great need of life saving assistance at this time, food, medical, shelter, the needs are huge, and to get there the World Food Programme and our partners are using every means possible. We have started a helicopter airlift to people who are stranded. We are also using on the ground support; people are using carts. Whatever we can find to move food and other life support assistance we will do so.
Heaven bless Your Highness, Your Majesty and all other governments, organizations, and individuals for your prompt and meaningful response to this situation of need. Surely such care reaching out from all corners of the world is bringing comfort to the Pakistani people and easing the recovery of their productive day-to-day lives.
