US races to trump militants in getting aid to Pakistan flood victims

[unhappycamper]

Flood-stricken Pakistanis wait outside a relief center to receive food supplies on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah spoke about America’s image in Pakistan, saying the US with its assistance was demonstrating to Pakistanis that 'we are in this for the long haul.'


US races to trump militants in getting aid to Pakistan flood victims
By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer / August 4, 2010

Washington - The United States is in a race with militant organizations in Pakistan to respond first and most effectively to the millions of Pakistani people who are the victims of the worst monsoon flooding in nearly a century.

As part of the US campaign, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday spoke not only of the expanding US response to the floods, but of the terrorist actions some groups are carrying out even in the disaster zone.

Calling attention to a suicide bombing Wednesday morning in Peshawar, near the center of the worst flooding in Pakistan’s northwest, Secretary Clinton said, “Violence like this is abhorrent at any time, but especially at this time of crisis for the Pakistani people.”

The bombing killed three people, including a senior police official. Elsewhere in the flood-stricken northwest, reports were emerging of extremist groups, including the Pakistani Taliban and a militant religious organization linked to the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, coming to flood victims’ aid.

In a statement made from the reception hall outside her State Department office, Clinton emphasized that the aid the US is providing – from search and rescue equipment and disaster assessment teams to food, water purifiers, and prefabricated bridges – is being closely coordinated with the Pakistani government. The US on Monday pledged $10 million for flood relief, but Clinton suggested Wednesday the figure would climb as more disaster aid is administered.



unhappycamper comment: The United States would have better luck if we weren't droning them to death.

[dipsydoodle]

1. In the meanwhile

Haiti never got their promised funds so if Pakistan has got any sense they won't hold their breath.

Exactly the same happened years ago when a big earthquake hit Iran......promises, promises. Just a load of puff and nonsense to look good in the press.