By Douglas V. Gibbs
The flooding in Pakistan began in July when heavy monsoon rains visited Pakistan. Thousands of people have died, and nearly a million homes have been badly damaged or destroyed. United Nations figures estimate over 20 million people have been misplaced, or are suffering due to the conditions.
As emergency relief pours into the region, a realization that the aid is literally not arriving fast enough has become a concern. Food shortages, a rising death toll, disease, injuries, the destruction of crops, the destruction of power and transmission lines, and the destruction of highways has all contributed to the dire situation. As the need for aid continues, looters have been taking advantage of the floods by ransacking abandoned homes using boats.
Disease outbreaks as a result of a lack of clean water and sanitary conditions are posing a serious risk to the survivors. A week ago the first case of cholera emerged, sending panic through a population already suffering from gastroenteritis and diarrhea.
More rainfall has been predicted, which may trigger more waves of flooding, inundating more land and swallowing yet more villages.
The floods have also affected the Taliban insurgency, diverting Pakistani military forces from fighting the Pakistani Taliban insurgents (TTP) in the Northwest to help in the relief effort. The possible result could be that Taliban fighters will be able to regroup.
An advantage is that the incredible amount of assistance the United States is providing, which is in our nature, will improve the image of the United States to the Pakistanis, or at least those not blinded by the radical Islamic ideology.
American relief efforts includes a recent arrival of four U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, and U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft, who are transporting international aid within Pakistan as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods.
The four helicopters are part of the contingent of 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan last week by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. They bring to 11 the total number of U.S. military aircraft currently operating in Pakistan in this relief effort.
The United States' pledge regarding relief in Pakistan equals about $76 million in assistance. U.S. support includes both financial assistance and the immediate provision of urgently needed supplies and services.
In addition to providing financial assistance, and emergency goods, the U.S. military helicopters have rescued 3,555 people.
For a more complete list of American contributions to this devastating tragedy in Pakistan, visit U.S. Embassy Islamabad Reports.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Pakistan: U.S. helicopters and cargo planes respond to disaster - Examiner
Pakistani Villages Continue to Suffer - Fox News
Flooding submerges new towns in Pakistan's south - One News Now
No comments:
Post a Comment