US unveils Pakistan emergency aid

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

The US is sending $110m (£71m) in aid to Pakistan to help cope with the refugee crisis in the north-west.
Details of the package were revealed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a White House news conference.

She said the US wanted to do more to help the more than two million people who have fled fighting between the Pakistani government and Taleban.

=snip=

'Incoherent'

Correspondents say the aid package underlines Washington's new strategy towards Pakistan of attempting to counter the appeal of the Taleban.

"One of our guiding principles is that this should be more than just the delivery of supplies," Mrs Clinton said. "It should be an investment in the people of Pakistan, so we will buy locally from the bumper crop of wheat and we'll work to help create quick impact job programs that will put Pakistanis to work making goods for their fellow citizens."

Mrs Clinton conceded US policy towards Pakistan over the past three decades had been "incoherent".

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8058252.stm

---

U.S. pledges $100M to help displaced Pakistanis

Source: CNN International

=snip=

The humanitarian assistance, according to the White House, specifically breaks down as follows:

-- $20 million to provide family relief kits, tents, FM radios, and generators to provide light and water;
-- $26 million for the immediate purchase of local wheat, other food, and related items;
-- $17 million for 50,000 tons of wheat slated to arrive in May and June;
-- $10 million to respond to United Nations emergency appeals;
-- $15 million to ship food items such as lentils, dried peas, and other basic foodstuffs; and
-- $12 million to fund an emergency response center.


In addition to the $100 million announced by Clinton, the Defense Department is sending another $10 million in aid could begin arriving this week if Islamabad grants permission for U.S.-manned C-17 flights, U.S. defense officials said earlier Tuesday.

The aircraft will carry food, water, water trucks and air-conditioned tents, the officials said.

Planning has been under way for several days, but Pakistani officials are sensitive to U.S. military presence in their country, the officials added.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/19/pakistan.refugees.camps/

[pleah]

1. So, we can send millions in aid to Pakistan, but

to our own citizens hurting and homeless, zilch. Nice.:sarcasm:

[KansDem]

2. I thought the same thing...

The humanitarian assistance, according to the White House, specifically breaks down as follows:

-- $20 million to provide family relief kits, tents, FM radios, and generators to provide light and water;
-- $26 million for the immediate purchase of local wheat, other food, and related items;
-- $17 million for 50,000 tons of wheat slated to arrive in May and June;
-- $10 million to respond to United Nations emergency appeals;
-- $15 million to ship food items such as lentils, dried peas, and other basic foodstuffs; and
-- $12 million to fund an emergency response center.

I thought "What about all those tent cities springing up across the country? Do they have 'generators to provide light and water?' Do they have 'food items such as lentils, dried peas, and other basic foodstuffs?'"

[pleah]

8. The whole thing makes me very sad.

And, what's worse is there will be a lot more people joining the tent cities.

[closeupready]

3. I think this aid is important, but I have to say, you make an excellent point.

But step back a minute and think about it: when was the last time Congress or the government gave a crap about the poor and hungry in this country? "Where are they gonna go? (Muwahahahaha!)" you can just hear them thinking. They don't HAVE to do anything for the poor, sick and hungry here in the US. Doing stuff for the poor sick and hungry in Africa or Asia makes them look like world statesmen and women.

[pleah]

4. Oh, I know WHY they do it.

I just get so sick of the POLITICS of it.

And, thanks for not yelling at me.:)

[closeupready]

5. You just got lucky - I'm having a good day.

:rofl: Just kidding. :hi:

[pleah]

6. ;)

:hug:

[ohio2007]

7. US will feed dumb asses while ak govt builds more nuke....nice oversight congress

makes perfectly good sense