US pledges $60 mn more as aid to Pakistan
August 20th, 2010 - 1:01 pm ICT by IANSUnited Nations, Aug 20 (IANS) The US has pledged an additional $60 million to emergency relief efforts in flood-stricken Pakistan.
The announcement Thursday came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was taking the floor at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly, aimed at strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance to Pakistan, Xinhua reported.
According to recent UN estimates, close to 54.4 million people in Pakistan have been affected by the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. The UN issued Aug 11 an appeal for $460 million from the international community.
However, “the combined efforts so far pale against the magnitude of the challenge”, said Clinton. “We know we face a humanitarian disaster of monumental proportions and it is creating economic and security problems,” she added.
To date, the US has contributed around $90 million for emergency relief efforts. Thursday’s pledge puts American contributions to a total of $150 million.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Wednesday reported that an estimated 1.5 million women of childbearing age are in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
As more rains are expected to fall throughout Pakistan for another month, the South Asian country will face multiple challenges in the aftermath of the disaster.
- Governments pledge over $200 mn in new funds for Pakistan: UN - Aug 21, 2010
- Germany increases aid to Pakistan to $13 mn - Aug 12, 2010
- US sends choppers to bolster aid efforts in flood-hit Pak - Aug 14, 2010
- At UN, governments to push for Pakistan flood aid - Aug 20, 2010
- Pakistan welcomes additional assistance for flood victims - Sep 20, 2010
- UN seeks $1.6 bn more for Pakistan flood victims - Sep 18, 2010
- Angelina Jolie Issues a plea for Pakistan - Sep 02, 2010
- UN chief to discuss Pakistan floods with General Assembly - Aug 19, 2010
- UN appeals for 460 million dollar emergency aid for Pak flood victims - Aug 12, 2010
- Pak says Cameron's 'terror sponsorship' remarks hampering flood aid efforts - Aug 12, 2010
- UN begins meeting on Pakistan flood emergency - Sep 20, 2010
- US seeking to reclaim image through flood-relief aid in Pakistan: Holbrooke - Aug 15, 2010
- International aid not enough to cope with Pak's catastrophe: UN - Aug 19, 2010
- Pak will overcome flood crisis: Clinton - Aug 13, 2010
- Millions of Pakistanis still in need of post-flood assistance: UN - Jan 01, 2011
Tags: 5 million, 60 million, aftermath, american contributions, disaster relief assistance, emergency relief efforts, hillary clinton, humanitarian aid, humanitarian disaster, magnitude, monumental proportions, nations population fund, secretary of state, security problems, south asian country, un general assembly, unfpa, united nations population fund, worst natural disaster, xinhua