In response to the Government of Pakistan’s disaster declaration on September 9, the United States has immediately begun providing a broad range of assistance to Sindh communities affected by this year’s floods including food supplies for more than 50,000 families.
“Assistance provided by the US will help thousands of flood-affected families over the next few weeks,” said Andrew Sisson, director of the US Agency for International Development Mission, according to a US embassy’s statement issued on Tuesday. “This support is part of the broader US Government commitment to assisting the people of Pakistan by supporting long-term development in times of immediate crisis,” it said.
It will be delivered by local and international organizations specialising in relief work. Already, USAID-funded food packages have reached 23,000 families in seven districts of Sindh (Badin, Mirpurkas, Tando Muhammed Khan, Tando Allah Ya, Tharparker, Umarkot, and Hyderabad). This assistance was delivered by the International Organisation for Migration. USAID also paid for nearly 60 trucks to deliver relief to affected areas and 1,000 plastic tarpaulins for shelter and is financing other efforts to coordinate relief activities.
In the coming days, US-funded relief supplies, including shelter materials, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene provisions will be provided through the Rural Support Programs Network, a non-governmental organization. The US is also contributing funding for 26,000 food packages to be distributed by the World Food Program. The US has also provided funding to the Agha Khan University’s mobile health unit, which is providing health care to affected communities in to Badin District.
Additional US-sponsored medical teams will begin working in other heavily flooded areas within the next several days. These health services are crucial in preventing and treating diarrhea, malaria, and other diseases that typically follow floods. Japan on Tuesday announced to extend emergency assistance in the wake of torrential rains in Pakistan.
“In response to the appeal to international community for assistance in dealing with the aftermath of torrential rains, the Government of Japan has announced that it would provide emergency relief goods worth 35million Yen (approximately $450,000),” said a foreign office statement. “The relief goods include tents, water purifiers and medicines,” it said.
