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| Four-fold hiked Indian assistance to Pak flood victims to be routed via UN | | | ABID SHAH
Early times report
NEW DELHI, Aug 31: India has raised its assistance in response to worst ever floods in recent history in Pakistan to 25 million US dollars from earlier five million dollars. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna announced this here in the Lok Sabha today. Making a suo motto statement in the Lower House today, the Minister said, "As a more concrete assessment of the damage inflicted by this natural disaster and the urgent needs of the people of Pakistan emerge, Government has decided to increase its assistance to Pakistan from 5 million US dollars, announced earlier, to 25 million US dollars. Out of this amount, 20 million US dollars would be contributed to the 'Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan' launched by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The balance of 5 million US dollars would be contributed to the World Food Programme for its relief efforts in Pakistan." Addressing the Speaker Meira Kumar, Krishna began noted in his statement that all four provinces of Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have been affected by the fury of floods warranting all possible humanitarian assistance. He said Pakistan has been severely affected by the massive floods that have caused widespread damage to life and property. The recent floods were worst in that part of the world in the last 80 years. Quoting from the latest figures given by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Minister said about 17.2 million people have been adversely affected by these floods. Death toll had reached over 1,600. More than 1.2 million houses have been damaged or destroyed besides widespread damage to infrastructure, crops and livestock. All four provinces of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were suffering because of the floods.
Latest reports indicate that the flood situation in Sindh was deteriorating, even as flood waters were reportedly receding in Punjab.
"We cannot remain unconcerned with this grave humanitarian crisis of enormous magnitude in our immediate neighbourhood. I had telephoned the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on August 13, 2010 and conveyed deepest sympathies and condolences to the people and Government of Pakistan, on this natural disaster, on behalf of the people and Government of India. "As a gesture of solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of need, I had also conveyed Government's offer of assistance of US $ 5 million for provision of relief material from India for the flood victims in Pakistan. "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani on August 19, 2010, to express his grief at the deaths resulting from the huge floods in Pakistan. Prime Minister conveyed that the Government of India had already made an offer of assistance and was ready to do more to assist in the relief effort. "Pakistan has conveyed its deep appreciation of India's offer of assistance. While mentioning that the United Nations has launched a flash appeal soliciting contributions from the international community to assist the people affected by the floods, Pakistan requested on 27 August that India may channel its contribution to the flood victims through the UN. "Prime Minister has rightly said that in such times of natural disasters, all of South Asia should rise to the occasion and extend every possible help to the affected people. We remain committed to assisting the people of Pakistan in all possible ways in this difficult hour," said Krishna concluding his statement in the House.
Earlier, Pakistan has been reluctant to accept Indian assistance towards aid of flood victims across the borders. Domestic opinion inside Pakistan was also said to be averse against taking Indian help. Thus, UN aid workers have turned out to be via media for taking Indian assistance to flood ravaged parts of Pakistan. But it is yet to be seen as to how Pakistan responds to the enhanced Indian offer of assistance through the UN after Krishna's today's statement.
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