The United States will devise a comprehensive plan to help Pakistan in its rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of devastating floods. This was stated by US Consul-General William Martin in an exclusive interview with APP here on Friday.
"We will help in rehabilitation, help in replanting, help in sending back children to schools. It's going to be a whole wide range of these efforts", he added. Martin, a graduate of California University, Berkeley and a career diplomat, said that the USA was working closely with the government of Pakistan, international NGOs and United Nations to devise a comprehensive plan to best help Pakistan.
"Let me assure you, the American people will stand by Pakistan in times of trouble. We will stand by you while you will be rebuilding. Our commitment is long-term, and you will see that American people will stand by you in this catastrophe. Action speaks is larger than words", he remarked.
He said that the USA has so far announced $200 million for flood relief activities and was the first country to respond within 36 hours of flood devastation. About 19 US helicopters are busy in rescuing and delivering relief goods, including food and medical supplies, to the affectees. Brave men and women from US military are constantly flying these helicopters in the most difficult conditions.
"We are constantly evaluating the flood situation and quantum of damage, and trying to identify with the co-operation of government of Pakistan (GoP), international organisations and local NGOs, the most expeditious way to provide assistance to Pakistan and to benefit as many people. About shortage of clean drinking water, Martin said he was looking at the possibilities to bring in water purification plants to provide clean drinking water to flood affected people in Sindh.
He said that US was also thinking of bring in more helicopters for Sindh to support rescue and transportation of relief goods and machinery. Regarding shortage of medicines, he said that USA, in co-operation and consultation with World Health Organisation and NDMA, is trying to identify the needs. "We are aware that large number of people need healthcare in affected areas and we expect this number to grow as the floods spread".
He said that USA was also trying to identify, with the support of NGOs and GoP, "the way through which we can provide medicine and money to organisations which have a large network and expertise in handling such catastrophe".
"We are working with NGOs like 'Save and Children', 'Mercy Corps', World Food Programme and Unicef and UNHCR and have given $92 million to United Nations relief plan to reach affectees at grass route level. He said that the affected people are gratified to the relief efforts by the United States in flood-hit areas in north, Punjab and Sindh. "We are not approaching them as Americans; we are approaching them as human being who have responded to their miseries". He said that USA is supporting the affectees out of its humanitarian concerns and values "of which we are proud of. That is our motivation".
He said the under-construction building of US Consulate would be completed early next year. The new premises would serve as the wonderful platform to provide humanitarian aid relief here in Sindh and would also allow to process visas here and give opportunity to staff this important city. Martin said he was working as US Consul-General in Bogota, Columbia, before coming to Pakistan, which faced similar problems like Pakistan.
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