The United States on Tuesday announced additional assistance of $10 million for food security assistance to support millions of flood-affected people in Pakistan.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the State Department building in Washington. During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed bilateral engagement in trade, energy, food, health, and areas of mutual interest and cooperation.
Speaking at an event, Blinken said a third of the country remains underwater after catastrophic storms, which he said impacts 33 million people.
Farmers’ entire harvests have been submerged, people’s homes have been washed away, and schools have been ravaged, said the top diplomat.
“That has an immediate impact. But unless we’re able together to deal with the challenge, it will have a long-term impact as well,” said Blinken.
The new sum is on top of the $56 million in humanitarian assistance provided in the immediate aftermath of the flooding.
Blinken said the US sent nearly 17 planes full of food supplies and materials to build shelters, tents and tarps.
“And we send a simple message. We are here for Pakistan, just as we’ve been during past natural disasters,” he added.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal said that Pakistan seeks help and cooperation from the US on climate justice. He said it was time for the green revolution to take place, hoping that US President Joe Biden would lead it.
“Pakistan has experienced a climate catastrophe of biblical apocalyptic proportions,” he said.
“It rained from mid-June to the end of August in Pakistan. The rain finally stopped and a 100-kilometer lake was formed in the middle of my country.”
During the press conference, Bilawal also invited Blinken to visit Pakistan.
According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, nearly 1,600 people have been killed due to flood-related incidents across the country.
Some 803,400 homes have been completely destroyed, while over 1.21 million houses are partially damaged.
The floods have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, who are living in tents.
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