Updated on
Summary
Deadly floods in Pakistan have killed more than 1,600 people, according to the United Nations, and affected nearly fourteen million. The UN launched a fresh appeal on August 11 for $459 million, and international relief agencies warn many more people are at risk without additional aid. The international response to Pakistan's latest crisis has been inadequate so far, says Richard C. Holbrooke, US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.The United States has pledged $55 million in aid, besides sending food and other necessities. Holbrooke says Washington is also sending more helicopters to aid in relief efforts. Holbrooke dismisses reports of Islamic charities, some with links to banned militant groups, sponsoring their own aid efforts and gaining support. Right now, we have an emergency situation affecting at least fourteen million people and first we are going to deal with that, he says, adding, the more we deal with that, the more it is an answer to these groups. We leapt into the effort as soon as it occurred and led the international response. The United States immediately sent helicopters from Afghanistan with US crews into the flooded zones. We have airlifted food in from our stocks in the Gulf and in Pakistan itself. We have committed large sums of money, and right now we have a US military vessel in the region about to send more helicopters. We are contacting international governments and doing everything we can in this extraordinary challenge, Holbrooke told.
