| WASHINGTON, May 20, 2009 – Two Air Force C-17 airlifters have begun delivering humanitarian aid to internally displaced people in Pakistan’s northwestern provinces, the chief U.S. defense representative said today.
U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson hands over one of the 120,000 meals destined for displaced people in Pakistan to Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed, coordinator of Pakistan's relief effort, Chaklala Air Base, Pakistan, May 20, 2009. U.S. State Department photo
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. |
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For Navy Rear Adm. Michael A. Lefevre, who works out of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the humanitarian effort to help the estimated 2 million Pakistanis displaced by the fighting against the Taliban brings a sense of déjà vu: the admiral headed the U.S. relief effort after an earthquake in Pakistan killed 73,000 people, injured 100,000 others and displaced more than 3.5 million Pakistanis in 2005.
The U.S. government has pledged $110 million to the relief effort. Pakistani forces are battling Taliban insurgents and other terror groups in the Pakistan’s federally administered tribal areas and in the Swat Valley, Buner and Dir areas. The Taliban have used the region as safe havens to plan operations against the government in Islamabad and against coalition and Afghan forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
The C-17s were sent in response to a specific request from the Pakistani government, Lefevre said. The initial request was for air-conditioned tents, water trucks and food. The C-17s brought in 40,000 packaged meals that conform to Islamic dietary requirements and 25 large tents. U.S. funds will buy water trucks, air conditioners and generators locally, Lefevre said.
The C-17s delivered the supplies from U.S. stocks pre-positioned in Kuwait.
“The tents are key to the area,” Lefevre said during a telephone news conference with Pentagon reporters. “Already it’s 100 degrees here. It’s very hot and steamy.” The admiral said plans call for setting up tents to handle medical cases and another to treat those with heat stroke and other heat-related problems.
Roughly 200,000 to 250,000 people are in the refugee camps; the vast majority of those displaced by the fighting are living with relatives. Pakistani officials estimate that at least that many people will be in the camps through the end of the year. Overall, the number of refugees is expected to hit 2 million as the fighting approaches Mingoara, the chief city in the Swat Valley. This should happen in the next week to 10 days, Lefevre said.
Once the fighting is over, rehabilitation and rebuilding must take place, and the U.S. government will aid in that if asked, the admiral said.
Three C-17 flights are delivering 125,000 meals and 50 tents. Though plans now don’t call for it, sealift support is available if needed, the admiral said.
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2254298/posts?page=16#16
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http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entries/text_disaster_relief/
Secretary Clinton: Text Your Disaster Relief Donation for Pakistan
Posted by DipNote Bloggers on May 19, 2009 - 01:33 PM
Full Briefing | More on Announcement | Text Your Donation
At a White House press briefing this morning, Secretary Clinton addressed the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, announcing a pledge of more than $100 million in humanitarian support.
Secretary Clinton said, “Pakistan is facing a major humanitarian crisis. Approximately 2 million people have fled their homes, and Pakistan’s government, their military, and relief organizations are working to meet the needs of these displaced persons. So many are finding refuge with family members, or in schools or mosques; they are relying on the generosity of relatives and friends. And I’m confident that Pakistan’s institutions and citizens will succeed in confronting this humanitarian challenge if the international community steps up and provides the support that is needed. ... Providing this assistance is not only the right thing to do, but we believe it is essential to global security and the security of the United States, and we are prepared to do more as the situation demands.”
The Secretary also invited the American people to join in the world-wide effort to bring stability to Pakistan: “Now, Americans can use technology to help, as well. Using your cell phones, Americans can text the word ‘swat’ — to the number 20222 and make a $5 contribution that will help the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees provide tents, clothing, food, and medicine to hundreds of thousands of affected people. And before I came over here, we did that in the State Department. So we are making some of the first donations to this fund.”
16 posted on May 20, 2009 4:19:28 PM PDT by Cindy
