Massive floods across Pakistan | Thousands Killed

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ReliefWeb » Document » The Netherlands donates additional €2 million for flood victims in Pakistan

The Netherlands donates additional €2 million for flood victims in Pakistan
Source: Government of the Netherlands

Date: 26 Aug 2010


The Dutch government is donating €2 million to the joint Dutch aid agencies (SHO) for emergency aid to flood victims in Pakistan.

'More aid will be needed in the months to come for people who have lost everything,' foreign minister Maxime Verhagen said. 'They are in desperate need of food, medical care, clean drinking water and emergency shelter.'

While the north is seeing water levels fall, the flood surge is moving downstream and causing new flooding in the south, where tens of thousands of people are being evacuated.

This brings Dutch government aid to the flood victims in Pakistan to €8.6 million. The Netherlands had previously pledged €4 million to the World Food Programme, €1.6 million to UNICEF and €1 million to the International Red Cross.

The funds released by the Netherlands will go towards the building of emergency shelters and the distribution of food packages to some 6 million people in the months to come, as well as food for infants, young children and mothers, clean drinking water and sanitation. Sanitation is vital in preventing the spread of diseases caused by contaminated floodwater.

 

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Chinese rescue team reaches Pakistan - People's Daily Online

Chinese rescue team reaches Pakistan


A chartered aircraft carrying a 55-member Chinese international rescue team, along with their relief aid, arrived at Islamabad on Thursday to help the victims of one of Pakistan's worst natural disasters in recent memory.

Zhang Liyan, the deputy director of the Armed Police General Hospital and the deputy head of the rescue team, said her unit had a record number of 15 female members, 14 of whom are medical workers.

She noted that, among the members of the experienced team, were veterans of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, while others had participated in the disaster relief work following the devastating 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

In addition, "given the sensibilities of Pakistan's Islamic society, we purposely selected more female medical staff to provide special care for local women and children," she said.

She emphasized that, among the 55 rescue workers, 36 medical staff specialized in 19 different fields of medical care - ranging from infectious diseases and skin disorders to gynecological and pediatric illnesses.

Xinhua quoted Huang Jianfa, the head of the rescue team as saying the relief work would focus mainly on medical assistance, and that the team would set up a field hospital in the flood-hit area, thus enabling doctors to perform emergency operations.

The team also brought with them more than 100 types of relief materiel and equipment as well as over 1,500 kinds of medicine - in all, worth more than eight million yuan ($1.2 million) to fight against acute diarrhea and respiratory tract infections.

The rescue team is expected to remain in the worst parts of Pakistan for three weeks, but Huang added that the exact date would be based on the situation on the ground.

Since Pakistan is China's "all-weather friend", Beijing was the first nation to offer aid - despite the fact that China itself is suffering from its own share of disasters.

On Wednesday, Beijing announced that it would offer Pakistan the third round of disaster relief materiel worth of 60 million yuan ($8.8 million).

Donations by the People's Liberation Army - including tents, generators and dredgers - also arrived on Wednesday, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu.

On Wednesday, the Pakistani ambassador to China, Masood Khan, expressed gratitude for China's concrete assistance.

The envoy said it has been difficult for relief workers to access the disaster-hit area, a factor that has only enhanced the needs of the victims.

"In this context, I would like to thank China's assistance because you are providing food, shelter and medicines to save our people's lives," he said.

Yu Yingfu, deputy director of the Department of Aid to Foreign Countries with the Ministry of Commerce, told reporters earlier that an investigation team would also be sent to Pakistan to find out the most effective ways to rebuild the flood-affected area.

"It is part of our effort to help Pakistan to reconstruct. It proves that China is doing all we can and we will continue to do so," he added.

Source: China Daily

 

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http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/detail_2010_08/26/2327960_0.shtml

解放军援助的1000顶帐篷等救灾物资运抵巴基斯坦

人民网伊斯兰堡8月25日电 （记者 牟宗琮）中国人民解放军向巴基斯坦伊斯兰共和国武装部队援助的1000顶帐篷和69台（套）各种发电机、清淤排水和净水设备在25日晚间一次性抵达伊斯兰堡恰克拉拉空军基地。这批物资共计91.3吨，价值1000万元人民币。中国驻巴基斯坦使馆武官王吉良大校和巴军方代表在机场进行了物资交接。巴军方对中国军队的援助表示感谢。



People's Liberation Army assistance 1,000 tents and other relief supplies arrived in Pakistan

People's Network in Islamabad on August 25 (Xinhua Mou Tsung cases) Islamic Republic of Pakistan People's Liberation Armed Forces of assistance to the 1,000 tents and 69 pieces (sets) of all generators, dredging of drainage and water purification equipment arrived in the 25 night-time Chuck Lara Air Force Base in Islamabad. A total of 91.3 tons of these goods, worth 10 million yuan. Chinese embassy in Pakistan and the Pakistani military attache Colonel WANG Ji-liang on behalf of the transfer of materials at the Airport. Pakistani military grateful for the assistance the Chinese army.

 

[fawwaxs]

Thatta caught unawares

THATTA: Breaches occurred suddenly in two embankments at Thursday midnight, one near Faqir Jo Goth and the other at Chhatto Chand, about four kilometres from Thatta town.

 

[fawwaxs]

Aid commitments top $1 billion: UN

UNITED NATIONS: The outgoing head of the United Nations Humanitarian Agency, John Holmes said on Thursday that over one billion dollars had been committed by way of pledges and direct donations towards Pakistan flood relief efforts, but decried threats to the UN humanitarian workers received recently.

Addressing a press conference at the UN headquarters here, Mr Holmes said that so far 70 per cent of the UN flash appeal of $460 million had been funded plus additional direct donations and pledges amounted to $1 billion.

He said that so far UN appeal had received $325 million and the rest was direct donations and pledges made to the Pakistan government by the world community.

However, he warned that there was a danger of an epidemic of water-borne diseases breaking out and efforts were being made to contain it.

There are thousands of cholera patients reported by the agency and the humanitarian workers are trying to prevent the outbreak of epidemic.

Responding to a question, he said that the threats to the UN workers were being reportedly received from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other such entities, but assured that the agency would continue its work to mitigate the suffering of Pakistanis affected by the floods.

He said the United Nations officials were in touch with Pakistani security agencies on the issue of threats and would hope that any such incident which would disrupt the work of the humanitarian workers was thwarted.

According to one report, foreign relief workers face a severe danger from the Taliban. Information received by the US government said that the TTP planned to attack foreign relief workers.

The Telegraph London reported that the militant group might also attack provincial and federal ministries in Islamabad.

Some of the banned Islamist charities have come forward to help the people affected by the flood. It can be seen as a ploy to win the hearts and minds of the people through this emergency.

An American aid official also unknowingly visited a charity camp that has links with a militant group and is on a terrorist group.

 

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UAE RELIEF WORK IN PAKISTAN

 

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U.S. Sailors with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, Detachment 2 help Pakistani soldiers load relief supplies onto a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter during humanitarian relief efforts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug. 21, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan/Released)

A U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, Detachment 2 prepares to load relief supplies during humanitarian relief efforts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug. 21, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan/Released)

A U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, Detachment 2 navigates Kalam Valley in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug. 21, 2010, en route to load relief supplies during humanitarian relief efforts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan/Released)

 

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The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, His Excellency Tim George, steps off an United Arab Emirates (UAE) CH-47 Chinook to inspect where the Australian Joint Inter-Agency Task Force health facility will be established in Kot Addu, Pakistan.

 

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Australia's Joint Inter-Agency Medical Task Force unload personal equipment from the back of a United Arab Emirates (UAE) CH-47 Chinook, after being transferred to Kot Addu where they will establish a health clinic for the local population.

 

[Cloakedvessel]

DutchNews.nl - Pakistan flood fund raiser raises ?16m

Pakistan flood fund raiser raises €16m
Friday 27 August 2010

Thursday night's tv and radio fund raiser for victims of the floods in Pakistan raised €16.1m, the joint charity group SHO said on Friday.

The SHO said it is 'very pleased' wth the result, which included €2m from the Dutch government.

Earlier this year, a similar appeal for victims of the earthquake in Haiti raised €83m, of which half came from the government.

The Pakistan appeal was kicked off by singer Marco Borsato.

SHO chairman Jan van Doggenaar said the public view of Pakistan counted against the appeal. 'Pakistan's image is absolutely not positive: corruption and extremism,' the Telegraaf quoted him as saying prior to the broadcast.

The Giro 555 bank account will remain open for donations for some time.

© DutchNews.nl

Dutch raise 16.1 million euros for aid to Pakistan | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

A national fundraising action in the Netherlands for aid to flood victims in Pakistan has yielded 16.1 mllion euros, according to the joint aid groups (SHO) which had organised the event. Late on Thursday evening SHO said they were "very satisfied" with the result.

The Dutch government donated 2 million euros to the aid fund, having earlier given 6.6 million to the UN World Food Programme, Unicef and the International Red Cross. Most of the 16.1 million euros was brought together by individuals, while companies appeared reluctant to spend on donations.

The yield is considerably smaller than that of a similar action to help the earthquake victims in Haiti earlier this year, which collected 83 million euros. In an attempt to explain the difference, SHO said that "Pakistan's image is definitely not positive: people think of corruption and extemism".

SHO will channel the money directly to local offices in Pakistan of established humanitarian organisations like the Red Cross, Unicef, Oxfam and Terre des Hommes.

The fundraising day ended with a Pakistan-themed TV evening on most public and private channels in the Netherlands. Throughout a show on public TV viewers could call in to a phone panel manned by Dutch celebrities to pledge their money.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Dutch donate more than 16 million euro to help flood victims in Pakistan

AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) — The Netherlands and its citizens have donated more than 16 million euros (.3 million) during a national campaign to help the flood victims in Pakistan, the Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (Cooperating Aid Organizations) said on late Thursday.

The campaign, organized by the Cooperating Aid Organizations, began on August 12 and led to a national radio and television campaign to collect money. The campaign, however, was dominated by a general negative feeling of Dutch citizens towards Pakistan.

“We call on everyone in the Netherlands to give money for the victims of this unprecedented disaster,” said Farah Karimi, chairman of the Cooperating Aid Organizations during the launch of the campaign on August 12. “I hope that people won’t be stopped by the negative reports about Pakistan: our aid is going straight to the victims. We can’t abandon them.”

The Cooperating Aid Organizations had earlier decided to not launch a national campaign because the disaster, which has left more than 2,000 people killed, did not receive extensive media coverage in the Netherlands. Additionally, many Dutch citizens have a negative opinion about the country because of widespread extremism.

On Thursday evening, national television channels and radio channels held a joint campaign to raise money for the Cooperating Aid Organizations. In all, including the money raised prior to the national television and radio campaign, a total of 16 million euros (.3 million) was collected.

“We are extremely happy with this nice amount,” said Jan van Doggenaar, action chairman for the Cooperating Aid Organizations. “We thank everyone who gave money or in another way contributed to this good result.”

Van Doggenaar said it was ‘fantastic’ that broadcasters were able to organize the national campaign so quickly. “The organizations of the Cooperating Aid Organizations will spend the money with care, so we can help the population of Pakistan. We will inform everyone about this next year.”

The national campaign on television on Thursday was opened by Dutch singer Marco Borsato, who urged people to donate money. “The floods in Pakistan have severely impacted millions of people. Homes have been destroyed, crops have been destroyed. There is urgent need for food, clean water, medicines and shelter,” Borsato said.

Every euro we collect today will save lives,” he added.

Callers who wanted to donate to Pakistan were greeted by a team of volunteers, including a number of Dutch celebrities.

But the negative feeling towards Pakistan kept people from donating, and Thursday’s result was significantly lower than the amount of money raised during the last national television and radio campaign earlier this year. Then, more than 83 million euro (5.3 million) was donated to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

“The image of Pakistan is far from positive: corruption and extremism,” Van Doggenaar said before the national television and radio campaign began.

The bank account for Dutch citizens to donate money on will remain open for at least another week.

(Copyright 2010 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)

 

[fawwaxs]

One million more displaced in floods

KARACHI: Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis were fleeing the Thatta district Friday after the bloated Indus River crushed a levee and flooded new areas, officials said. The UN said as many as one million people have been displaced in the south since midweek.

More than eight million people are need in of emergency assistance across the country.

In Thatta city, around 175,000 people — nearly 70 per cent of the city's population — were believed to have packed up and left overnight, said Manzoor Sheikh, a senior government official. Authorities were trying to repair the broken levee and arranging transport for people trying to leave.

UN spokesman Maurizio Giuliano said according to reports received by the world body, around one million people were displaced in Thatta and Qambar-Shadadkot districts since Wednesday.

It is difficult to verify figures given by the authorities, however, partly because of poor or old census data and partly because of the difficulty of tracking migrations over such wide swaths of territory. Many of the areas are hard to reach because of the water, and people may have left their homes well before the evacuation orders.

UN aid agencies along with a host of other relief groups have been rushing people and supplies to affected regions as the flooding has lashed Pakistan over the past month.

The situation in Sindh ''is getting from bad to worse,'' Giuliano said. ''We are delivering (aid) faster and faster, but the floods seemed determined to outrun our response.''

Also at risk in Sindh province are many historic graves, tombs and other sites linked to the Mughal Empire that once ruled the subcontinent.

The floods began with the onset of the monsoon and have ravaged a massive swath of Pakistan, from the mountainous north to its agricultural heartland. Almost 17.2 million people have been significantly affected by the floods and about 1.2 million homes have been destroyed or badly damaged, the UN has said.

 

[fawwaxs]

This is a great opportunity to build community spirit through social work. It is also an opportune time to impact the image of Pakistan globally, positively.

 

[Aeon]

UN receives $291m for flood victims of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (28th August 2010)

United Nations has informed that approximately $291 million donations have been received out of $460 million aid appeal from the platform of United Nations for the flood-affected people of Pakistan adding that during last 48-hour additional one million people have become homeless in Sindh owing to flood wreckages.

Addressing a press briefing on Friday, UN spokesman informed media that above 17.1 million people have been affected in devastating floods in Pakistan and UN agencies have till now provided shelters to 800,000 flood victims.

He said that 730,000 children in flood-hit areas have been vaccinated and lives of 720,000 children could be threatened if they were not provided with basic health facilities immediately. Security concerns have not restrained relief activities in the flood-affected areas and thousands of people could be affected in flood-affected areas of Sindh if relief activities didn’t initiate.

 

[Cloakedvessel]

Germany increases humanitarian aid for Pakistan to 25 million euros : GERMAN WORLD MAGAZINE

Germany increases humanitarian aid for Pakistan to 25 million euros

August 27, 2010 by GW Editorial Staff
Filed under NEWS


The Federal Government has stepped up its humanitarian aid for the flood victims in Pakistan by a further ten million to currently 25 million euros (approx. 32 million US dollars). The total contribution of the European Union and its Member States amounts to 164 million euros (approx. 210 million US dollars).

Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle today (19 August) issued the following statement:

“The scale of the floods in Pakistan is far greater than originally estimated. We must now assume up to 20 million people are affected.

That is why Federal Minister Dirk Niebel and I have decided to step up the Federal Government’s humanitarian aid for Pakistan by a further 10 million euros. With the help of our partner organizations, we will ensure this aid reaches those most at risk with all speed.

I appeal to the German people to respond generously to this disaster. Your donations can do a great deal to relieve the suffering in Pakistan.”

On 18 August Federal Minister Guido Westerwelle spoke on the telephone with his Pakistan counterpart Mahmood Qureshi, who gave him a detailed description of the situation on the ground as well as the humanitarian and medium- and long-term consequences of the floods.

In the face of this humanitarian crisis the Federal Minister expressed his profound sympathy for the people of Pakistan and promised German assistance and support. He gave an assurance that Germany would stand by Pakistan in its hour of need.

Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed his thanks for the German offer of help. Given the scale of the disaster, Pakistan urgently needed international assistance, he pointed out.

The Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development are both increasing their assistance by another 5 million euros. This brings Germany’s humanitarian aid for Pakistan from 15 million to currently 25 million euros.

As a member of the European Union and a range of international organizations Germany is also making considerable indirect contributions to the aid effort.

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114826&Itemid=192

German telethon raises $ 10 mln in a night for Pak flood victims

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (APP): A fund-raising telethon session by a German television channel in Berlin, became a success by collecting 10 million dollars in a night for the flood victims in Pakistan. The ZDF television - the second largest television of Germany, ran a two-hour programme which was attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who appealed to the people to donate generously for the flood victims.Pakistan’s ambassador Shahid Kamal in Berlin told APP on telephone that Chancellor Merkel’s presence in the telethon proved a big inspiration for the German public in raising the fund.

He said a special interview with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on flood situation was also aired during the telethon - the first international one held for this cause.
The ambassador made it clear that the money collected was in the form of “donations and not just pledges”, and an amount of 10 million dollars had been transferred to bank account by Friday morning.
He said the phone lines were still open and the people in large numbers were giving donations for rescue and relief in flood-hit areas.
He said the amount would be given to the 20 German relief organizations already working in Pakistan, to carry out relief operations.
Shahid Kamal lauded the German people, who had already given more than 32 million dollars for the flood relief activities.
He said Germany becomes the second largest contributor in European Union after the United Kingdom, by donating 50 million dollars by its government and almost the same amount by its people.
He said besides, German companies had also set up separate funds to collect donations from their employees.

 

[alibaz]

THATTA: Hundreds of thousands of residents of Dadu and Thatta are moving out to safer places in fear of imminent floods on self-help basis while citizens are also taking part voluntarily in the effort to strengthen an under-construction protective dyke in Shahdadkot to save their city.

The flood stream coming from Shahdadkot, after wreaking havoc in several villages, is expected to enter Hamal Lake and MNV drain anytime now.

Thousands of families from 391 villages located in Tehsil KN Shah, Mehar and Juhi are relocating to safer places.

The unmerciful tides of flood let loose as a result of breach in protective bund at Sheedi Mori and Ruso Brohi is heading rapidly towards Thatta district. The authorities have failed to plug this breach even after passage of 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Tehsil Sajjawal, Mirpur Bhatoro, Daro and Banun besides hundreds of villages in the surrounding areas have already been evacuated.

According to Sindh Irrigation Departement, Daro city is feared to face inundation anytime.

The affectees who arrived in Makli from Thatta staged a sit-in on National Highway against non-availability of essential relief goods, suspending the traffic.

In the meantime, five trucks full of relief items being escorted by Provincial Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza which were heading toward Makli were intercepted and looted by the flood affectees.

www.geo.tv - Security Verification


ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Friday put the death toll from the countrywide rains and deluge at 1600 and the total number of affectees at 17 million.

Spokesman of NDMA said that rains and floods killed 1068 people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa; 183 in Gilgit-Baltistan; 109 in southern areas of Sindh; 103 in Punjab; 71 in Kashmir and; 48 people in Balochistan.

He said the toll is feared to mount further as the water level recedes in flooded areas.

The NDMA spokesman said 8 million people are in need of food on emergency basis.

http://www.geo.tv/8-27-2010/70581.htm