Islamabad: The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on Tuesday announced an additional $30 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to support people and communities affected by severe flooding in Pakistan. The federal government has declared the floods a national emergency, with 66 districts declared to be “calamity hit”.

“The United States is deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life, livelihoods, and homes throughout Pakistan,” an official statement said. In response to the Pakistani government’s request for assistance, the official statement said the US will prioritise urgently needed food support, safe water, sanitation and hygiene improvements, financial help, and shelter assistance. “This support will save lives and reduce suffering among the most vulnerable affected communities.” The United States will continue to monitor the crisis in close coordination with local partners and Pakistani authorities, it added. A USAID disaster management specialist arrived in Pakistan on August 29 to assess the impact of the floods and intensify coordination with partners on response efforts. The US remains steadfast in its support for affected communities throughout Pakistan.

In addition to the $30 million in urgently needed humanitarian assistance announced today, Washington also provided over $1.1 million in grants and project support earlier this month to ensure direct assistance reaches those communities most impacted and to help mitigate and prevent the effects of future floods.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 31 2022

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