U.S. Raises Aid in Pakistan Flood to $345 Million; U.K. Gives $209 Million
The U.S. will raise its aid to Pakistan’s flood victims to $345 million, responding to the largest appeal for humanitarian relief ever made by the United Nations.
The U.S. is lifting its financial aid by $76 million on top of $269 million pledged to date to assist with relief and recovery efforts, according to an e-mailed statement from the State Department.
“There is no question that the destruction is widespread and indeed, in some places, it is still ongoing and that millions of people who lost everything are now faced with the unimaginably difficult task of rebuilding their lives,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in remarks at a meeting today in New York on the Pakistan flood emergency.
Countries are responding to an appeal made two days ago by the UN, which has asked for $2 billion to help 14 million victims of flooding in Pakistan. The U.K. today more than doubled its aid, taking the government’s commitment to 134 million pounds ($209 million). Norway, a leading donor, said it would quadruple its aid to Pakistan to 400 million kroner ($66 million).
Floods in Pakistan have affected 20 million people, killing more than 1,700, and have damaged 1.9 million homes, the UN says.
The money raised would fund 483 projects by 15 UN agencies and 156 other relief groups over the next 12 months, the UN said. The principal sectors targeted are food, water, shelter, sanitation, education and health.
The UN’s initial flood relief appeal for $459 million is 80 percent funded. An appeal for $1.44 billion in aid to Haiti following the Jan. 12 earthquake was the previous largest request.
To contact the reporter on this story: Flavia Krause-Jackson in New York at fjackson@bloomberg.net
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