The U.S. government,
through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing
an additional $1.5 million in emergency assistance in the aftermath of last
week's earthquake in Balochistan province in Pakistan. This brings the
total USAID emergency assistance package to $2.5 million to date.
USAID committed $1 million of the $2.5 million to the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC is providing emergency
assistance, including emergency health care, shelter, relief commodities,
and water and sanitation interventions, for earthquake-affected
populations.
Through its international and non-governmental partners, USAID is
distributing much needed relief commodities in Balochistan province. On
November 3, the first trucks transporting USAID-funded plastic sheeting for
the construction of temporary shelters arrived in Quetta. This plastic
sheeting will be distributed to affected villages in Ziarat District, and
additional USAID-funded plastic sheeting will be distributed over the next
three days.
In addition to providing funding and in-kind assistance to meet
immediate needs, USAID has also deployed a four-member Disaster Assistance
Response Team (DART) to Pakistan. The team is on the ground in Pakistan
working in coordination with local officials and the international
community to provide aid to those in need.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, the Government of Pakistan's National Disaster Management
Authority has reported that the earthquake affected 35,600 individuals in
Ziarat and Pashin districts.
This emergency assistance is in addition to the over $2 billion the
U.S. has provided for development programs in Pakistan to improve health,
education, economic growth, democratic governance and to reconstruct areas
affected by the October 2005 earthquake.
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International
Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide
for nearly 50 years.
SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development
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