US pledge every possible support for flood relief in Pakistan

[Turborama]

Source: Pakistan Times

Pledging continued support for Pakistan's flood recovery effort, the United States has said the reconstruction phase following the current relief work will likely need more international aid overtime than committed to the key South Asian country after a deadly earthquake in 2005.

"What makes this unique is the scale of the disaster and its effect throughout the entire country," U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, said.

"The (7.6-magnitude) earthquake and the displacement of 2 million people from the Swat Valley (in anti-militant operation last year) were more localized. So while the loss of life in this disaster may be less, the economic impact and the need for reconstruction assistance over time could well be greater," the diplomat added, speaking from Islamabad via teleconference with American journalists.

The United States, she said, is working with the federal Pakistani government and established NGOs to provide immediate life-saving aid to the victims of the worst floods in Pakistan in 80 years.

Read more: http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=13624

[dipsydoodle]

1. Like they did Haiti who still wait for the funds

.

[msongs]

2. we just gave Pakistan $500 million, that oughta provide lots of flood relief nt

[pscot]

3. +1

We're laying off teachers and the county offices don't answer phones on Monday and Friday because they're short staffed, yet we can spend billions on military adventurism and nation building for people who despise us.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. Didn't you notice that there's been a massive natural disaster in Pakistan?

Or doesn't it register?

[CountAllVotes]

4. we could use that $500 million

right here, right now.

ENOUGH!

:dem:

[Violet_Crumble]

8. You don't want to help people who've suffered from a natural disaster?? n/t

[Turborama]

9. Sounds like something you'd read on a FREEdom website containing REPUBLICans, doesn't it? n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

10. That's exactly what it reminded me of....

I doubt people who think that way are capable of feeling shame, but I thought it was worth posting some information I found in The Guardian on donations by country and how much per head of population it comes to..


(country, amount of aid committed, amount per head of population)

Kuwait, $5,000,000, $1.64 per head
Norway, $3,272,830, $0.67 per head
Luxembourg, $27,654, $0.25 per head
UK $32,550,860, $0.53 per head
Australia $9,033,423 $0.0.42 per head

and then the list continues for a long while before we get to

USA, $22,525,715 $0.07 per head

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/aug/09/pakistan-flood-aid#data

[Turborama]

12. Astonishing, isn't it? I've posted the graphic to that

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4498952&mesg_id=4499196

Have you seen Sabrina's OP in GD yet? If not, it's well worth checking out (look at the latest comment someone has made)... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8938574

[Violet_Crumble]

14. Thanks for the link to that OP...

How could anyone say something like that latest comment after looking at the photos of the suffering in Pakistan? I'm speechless...

[lovuian]

11. I agree

we have needs here at home
we can't be responsible for every country
Yes give them aid but remember our own country too

[Violet_Crumble]

13. Do you realise how absolutely selfish that sounds?

Have you read the information I posted about donors by country and how much per head has been donated?

The US has donated far less per head of population than many other countries...

[Turborama]

15. American exceptionalism rears its ugly head all over DU

I don't remember any comments like this when the Haiti earthquake happened. Strange, that.

[applegrove]

5. Yup. The USA needs to give lots and lots of aid to Pakistan. To keep them on our side and maybe

win over some of the more radical elements.

[Turborama]

6. +1

There is a monumental humanitarian crisis going on there, Pakistan's government cannot respond adequately and the Taliban et al are currently trying to fill the void.