UK ministers announce £14.5 million more for relief

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD (August 19 2010): The visiting British Ministers on Wednesday announced additional £14.5 million for the flood affectees and said that UK would make efforts to reinvigorate the international response in assisting Pakistan to overcome the present situation. British International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell and British Minister without portfolio Baroness Warsi said that Pakistan is in a worse crisis of the history in the wake of flood and it is not yet over.

The officials are in Pakistan to see how UK is helping those affected by the floods and to assess if further help will be needed. Addressing a press conference in the British High Commission after their visit to some flood affected areas, the Development Secretary said that Pakistan needs much to overcome this worse challenge and he was leaving to New York to attend the UN special session called to discuss the Pakistan's situation and he would strongly pursue Pakistan's case in the special session.

He said that Britain was standing by Pakistan and announced a further British support which would help fight the spread of disease; shelter for displaced families; and provide more support - including food and medical supplies - to provinces in the south of Pakistan.

This means that UK aid will now benefit up to three million people affected by the floods, he said, adding "The people of Pakistan need help and they need it now. It is difficult to comprehend the extent of this tragedy. Nothing could have prepared me for the horrific scenes of destruction and devastation I have seen today".

"But the worst could still come. More heavy rains are expected, and as the River Indus rises, it threatens further damage to heavily populated areas in the south of the country", he opined.

Andrew announced UK support, incorporating a number of programmes to help the particularly hard-hit areas of Punjab and Sindh, which includes: tents and plastic sheeting for 15,000 families; mobile clinics and other health initiatives to prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria and water-borne diseases; speeding up the distribution of emergency aid; working to provide food, clean water, medical supplies and shelter to an additional 375,000 people.

He added that additional flights to deliver aid, including for around 280,000 people in need in inaccessible, mountainous areas in northern Pakistan; as part of the UK's contribution, another RAF flight carrying further aid is leaving for Pakistan on Wednesday. "The additional help announced today will mean that tens of thousands of people will get food, shelter and medical help. But we need to support Pakistan for the long-term as well as giving short-term relief and I want the people of Pakistan to know the UK is standing by them", he added.

Baroness Warsi said that the scenes in the affected areas were devastating and the situation was likely to worsen. "I have seen for myself just what UK Aid has been able to do already, and this additional allocation of aid will further help those who have been affected by this tragedy to rebuild to their lives'. she said.

She said that she would go to UK and mobilise people from all walks of life including British citizens, Muslim community, Pakistani Britain community, NGOs students and civil society organisations for helping Pakistan in the hour of need. She added that there is a need of systematic and transparent co-ordination as there are a lot of people who want to contribute and also there is people who severely need of help.

"I'd like to thank the British public, who have donated over £15 million to this cause, for their continued generosity. It is vital that the international community joins us in doing everything we can to relieve the suffering of the people of Pakistan", she added. She emphasised on the international community to not forget Pakistan once flood is over. Rather, she said, help them in their rehabilitation and reconstruction. The support announced on Wednesday is worth £14.5m, confirms that in total DFID has provided £31 million.