Indonesia Helps

Indonesian socialite donates Rp 50 mln for flood victims

ISLAMABAD, Sep- Prominent Pakistan-origin Indonesian socialite and medical practitioner Badaruzzaman has presented a cash donation of Indonesian Rp 50 million to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia Sanaullah for disbursement among the flood affected people , said a message received here on Wednesday.

Badaruzaman, who was accompanied by Chairman Kashmir Solidarity Forum Jakarta Dr. Zahir Khan said he was greatly moved by the plight of millions of Pakistanis who had became victims of natural calamity.
Ambassador Sanaullah lauded the goodwill gesture of Badaruzzaman and said Pakistan needed support from international community in the face of the gigantic challenge posed by wide-scale floods. He briefed him about the latest flood situation in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan was grateful to Indonesian government and philanthropists for their generous support for flood affected people.

PAK ARMY RELIEF

  Pak Army establishes over 300 relief camps for flood victims

ISLAMABAD, Sep - Pakistan Army has established over 300 relief camps across the country for flood affected people and is providing food and medical care to them. According to an ISPR press release issued on Wednesday, Army Engineers plugged the breaches in D.G Khan and now they are busy day and night in plugging the breaches at Tori Bund(dyke) and have completed 70 per cent work.

Army Aviation is actively involved in evacuating the people from flood areas of Sindh and Balochistan. Army has also distributed 12,000 Kg rations in Usta Mohammad, Gandakha and Saif Ullah Canal in Balochistan. While 71 tons of dry rations were distributed in Army Relief Camp at Nowshera donated by Saudi and Kuwaiti Ambassadors Around 97,000 people have gone back to their homes in Rahim Yar Khan.

UAE FEILD HOSPITAL

UAE army relief force field hospital starts functioning in Southern Punjab

 

ISLAMABAD, Sep : The UAE Army Relief Force Field Hospital Wednesday started operating with Pakistan Army in remote flood affected areas of southern Punjab. The field hospital of the UAE government quickly moved to Multan to cover the upper region of Muzaffargarh, Layya etc and to provide health facilities to the flood affected people of this region as no one has yet reached these areas due to no road network.

According to a UAE Embassy press release, the hospital is equipped with latest equipments including ambulances to provide medical facilities to the needy, badly affected by the devastating floods.
The head of the relief force met head of the Logistic Unit of Pakistan Army, Maj. Gen. Jamal and discussed the areas and basic requirements.
Meanwhile, the UAE army relief force will continue its operation during Eid to transport food stuff and other assistance to the flood victims, the press release added.

US HELPS

USAID to help Pak in health, education sectors 

ISLAMABAD, Sept - USAID has pledged that it will assist flood affectees in the areas of health and education.  This promise was made in a meeting between a USAID delegation and Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Sector.

The meeting discussed education and health issues in flood affected areas of Pakistan. The delegation pledged its full support and cooperation in this regard.
Suzanne Olds, a senior delegate of USAID told Shahnaz Wazir Ali that USAID is planning to provide prefabricated schools to ensure an early resumption of the schools education in the affected districts.
She also briefed Shahnaz about their plans and efforts in the health and restoration of healthcare facilities in these areas.
Shahnaz told the delegation that damage to the educational infrastructure is enormous. More than 6.5 million school going children, after losing their homes and everything, are out in the open skies.
Resumption of the schools needs provision of tents, text books and reading and writing materials to the children.
She maintained that after life saving, health is the most important sector that requires immediate attention and focus.
The government has successfully controlled diseases like cholera, malaria and diarrhea and others with the efforts of the Federal Health Ministry and provincial health departments.

ANGELINA JOLIE VISITS PAKISTAN

Angelina Jolie in Pakistan to highlight needs of flood victims

 

ISLAMABAD, Sept 7 : UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie is in Pakistan, highlighting the suffering of millions of flood victims and the need for continuing aid for the displaced. Jolie is visiting flood-hit regions on Tuesday and Wednesday as the personal envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antinio Guterres.

The Goodwill Ambassador is travelling to affected communities and meeting people involved in the relief efforts.
The award-winning actress last visited the country in November 2005 after a devastating earthquake swept northern Pakistan,according to a UNHCR press release issued here on Tuesday.     
The floods that first hit Pakistan in July have affected millions.
UNHCR has delivered help to almost 750,000 people, but continued flooding in many areas of southern Pakistan is creating new challenges for relief efforts.
“Pakistan remains in the midst of a massive humanitarian crisis as flooding continues across vast areas,” said Mengesha Kebede, UNHCR’s representative to Pakistan.

PM MEETS ARMY CHEIF

PM lauds army’s flood relief activities 

 

ISLAMABAD, Sep 7 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday appreciated the role played by the officers and jawans of the armed forces particularly the army in carrying out rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas.Talking to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the PM House, the Prime Minister especially lauded the timely response of army aviation in rescuing the stranded people in these areas.The Prime Minister said the armed forces have an important role to play in the upcoming phases of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the flood affected areas.

 

The Army Chief briefed the Prime Minister about the relief activities being carried out by the army. He also apprised the Prime Minister about the overall security situation in the country.

Turkey HELPS

 TURKISH FIRST LADY MEETS PM GILLANI

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that Pakistan-Turkey strategic ties are based on cultural and religious linkages, and our relations have stood the test of times.The Prime Minister was talking to the First Lady of Turkey, Madam Emina Erdogan, spouse of the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyep Ardogan who came to Pakistan to express Turkish people’s solidarity with their Pakistani brethren at this time of trial and tribulation.

First Lady, Mrs. Fauzia Gilani and Prime Minister’s daughter Syeda Fiza Batool Gilani were also present during the call on at the Prime Minister House on Thursday.
The Prime Minister thanked the First Lady of Turkey for overwhelming support and generous contribution of the Turkish Government and people to assist their Pakistani brethren at these trying times.
He apprised the Turkish delegation of flood damages and difficulties of flood affected people.
The Turkish First Lady said that Pakistan and Turkey are two brotherly countries which have supported each other through thick and thin, testifying strong bonds of close relations both at official and public levels.
She apprised the Prime Minister that all the Turkish institutions including media are engaged in raising funds for the flood affectees of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Finance, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Mr. Egemen Bagis, the Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Mr. Takin Kuoukali, President Turkish Red Crescent, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Mustafa Babur Hizlan and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Nargis Sethi.

TURKEY HELPS

  TURKISH FIRST LADY CALLS CHAIRMAN NDMA

ISLAMABAD, Sep 3 : Wife of Turkish Prime Minister Emine Erdogal on Friday called on Chairman National Disaster Management Authority General ® Nadeem Ahmed who briefed her on relief operation carried out in flood affected areas.The Chairman NDMA said that it was the worst ever disaster in the history of the country which hit 79 districts and over 20 million people were affected. He lauded the role of Turkish governnet and International community for their generous help.Chairman NDMA briefed the spouse of Turkish Prime Minister that NDMA has adopted a transparent way of distributing relief goods among flood victims.

“We provide the relief goods to provinces and later provinces provide the stuff to the affected people through proper networks”, he said.The better half of Turkish PM acknowledged the role of NDMA and assured assistance of Turkish Government for the people of Pakistan.

UAE HELPS

UAE's telethon raises over Dh85 million for Pakistan flood victims so far

The Red Crescent Authority's (RCA) telethon has raised over Dh85 million in donations so far to assist the estimated 23 million flood victims in Pakistan.

Dubbed "Awnakum", Arabic for Your Help, the campaign which is under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan saw the participation of various TV channels and radio stations across the UAE such as National Geographic Channel Abu Dhabi, Al-Emarat, Ajman, Noor Dubai, Sharjah 2, Fujairah's Dunia, Ras Al-Khaimah TV and Al-Waha, Awtar, Music Plus, Al-Dhafra.
Deputy Chairman of RCA for Local Affairs Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Hammadi said the telethon continues nationwide and at RCA's branches and offices and we look forward to big donations from nationals and expatriates to further help the Pakistani people in this holy month.
He said the effort is being directly followed up on by H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of RCA. 

UN APPEALS

UN appeals for more helicopters

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme , Josette Sheeran, on Monday announced that the WFP is doubling its own helicopter fleet from five to ten to ensure uninterrupted supply of food to flood-hit people of Pakistan.
Sheeran appealed to the world community to provide more helicopters for the purpose.
According to a statement issued by the WFP, Sheeran is visiting Pakistan on Aug 31 to review the program's relief activities.

Besides traveling to the flood hit areas she will also hold meetings with the chiefs of other UN organisations involved in the relief efforts.
Sheeran said that the devastating flood had cut off many areas but there were still several regions which were accessible via roads.
She said the WFP was finding it hard to provide food to eight lac people stuck in remote areas. "Helicopters were the only way to reach them and we were short of them,"

SAUDIA ARABIA HELPS

  SAUDIA ARABIA TO SET UP TWO FEILD HOSPITALS

KARACHI, Aug 27 : The Saudi Arabian government will setup two field hospitals of 200 beds each for flood victims in the province of Sindh and Punjab during next few days.  “At least 250 Saudi doctors will be deputed at these field hospitals,” said Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan, Abdul Aziz Al-Ghadeer here on Friday.

Talking to before departure for aerial survey of Thatta for setting up field hospital, he said that the hospitals will be equipped with all basic and latest facilities to provide treatment to flood affected people.
The survey team also included few Saudi doctors, defence attache and Lt. Cdr. Logistics Area, Pakistan Army, Brig. Syed Shaukat Ali.
A contingent of 130 Saudis were already engaged in rescue operation jointly with Pakistan Army at Hyderabad while an additional 22 volunteer doctors including male and female will also be arriving in Islamabad soon to provide medical aid, particularly, for female patients.
The ambassador mentioned that Saudi Government had already raised $107 million in cash through public campaign for flood victims.
“People of Saudi Arabia and the government are working shoulder to shoulder to provide relief to our Muslim brethren facing one of the historic natural disaster today,” he said.
He said the Saudi government has also planned to supply 300 tonnes of dates for flood victims during the holy month of Ramazan and a consignment of 100 tonnes has already arrived.
Moreover, the ambassador said that Saudi Prince Walid bin Talat will also visit Pakistan next week alongwith a delegation of top businessmen of the Kingdom to assess the situation of flood in Pakistan.
“The Prince will flew into Multan on Monday for the purpose,” he said.

AZERBAIJAN HELPS

  AZERBAIJAN HELPS US$ 1 MILLION

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 : Azerbaijan has donated US dollars 1 million additional aid for the flood victims, bringing the total aid to dollars 2 million.The decision has been taken after the special session of the United Nations, The aid is in addition to two aircraft containing humanitarian aid, said a press release issued by Azerbaijan Embassy here on Friday.  Earlier, the Azerbaijan President announced US dollars 1 million for the  flood victims as the immediate relief assistance to Pakistan.  The first aircraft containing food items of 35 tons reached at Chaklala Air Base here on Friday morning which includes clean drinking water and other necessities of life.

Dashgin Shikarov, Charge d’ affaire of Azerbaijan in Pakistan received the humanitarian aid and handed over to Pakistani officials.
Dashgin stated that second air craft would arrive here on Aug 29.
He said that Azerbaijan and Pakistan have historical and cultural relations and these relations are developing in the frame of international and regional organizations such as UN, OIC, ECO etc. 
Pakistan always supports Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh issue and Azerbaijan supported Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue, he added.
Both the countries support each other in humanitarian issues.  At the time of 2005 earthquake, Azerbaijan on the directives of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan allocated $1 million. 
Now once again Pakistan is facing disastrous flood situation and Azerbaijan is one of the first countries which provided its support.

US HELPS

US HELPS USD 200 million

SWAT, Aug 27 : Peshawar based US Consul General Elizabeth H. Rood has said that US Government would provide USD 200 million to Pakistan Government for rehabilitation of the flood victims and reconstruction of the infrastructure damaged due to flash floods.The US helicopters saved 8000 people stranded in the flood hit areas in Swat district and shifted them to safe areas.The US government would continue to help the people of Pakistan in this difficult hour. She was talking to local media men after having aerial view of the flood affected areas and inspection of the Chakdara bridge repaired by the Pakistan army in 21 days time in Malakand agency on Friday.

Elizabeth H. Rood said her government supported Pakistan in war against terror and would continue to help the people affected by the floods in Malakand division as well. She said the 12 ready made bridges have been handed over to the KPK Government.
She assured that the US teams would remain in the area till their presence was necessary. The US Government has provided USD 35 million before the flooding and construction work on 108 schools is in progress.
Brigadier Saeed Ahmed Nagra briefed the US Consul General about the relief and rehabilitation activities underway in the area. She was told that the rains played havoc in lower Swat district as 11 main bridges, 40 percent agriculture crops, over 2000 houses destroyed in the floods. 67 people died and 99 recieved injuries in the lower Swat.
The US Consul General took by surprise every one present when she gave interview in Pashto to a foreign Pashto Radio Channel at Chakdara.  Her Pashto ascent was excellent, commented the interviewer.
The Spokesman for the US Consulate told that the Consul General can speak Pashto very well and there was no need of interpreter.
The US delegation also refused cold drinks due to fasting month of Ramdan and returned the same respecting the Ramadan.

Latest News PM Oders HOSPITAL

PM Orders diarrhoea treatment facility

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday directed to convert Railways Hospital Sukkur into a dedicated medical facility for the treatment of patients with acute watery diarrhoea. 

The Prime Minister has taken the step to control outbreak of water-borne diseases in the flood-hit areas, keeping in view the heat and humidity in the south.The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Railways to place the Railways Hospital Sukkur at the disposal of Ministry of Health which in collaboration with the World Health Organization will convert the hospital into a dedicated medical facility for treatment of water born diseases.

The establishment of this facility will create no additional expense, while the existing staff will continue to work in the hospital. 
The Prime Minister has been closely monitoring the health situations in the flood ravaged areas. Chairing a high level meeting to review the health situation in flood-hit areas last week, he directed the Ministry of Health to take on board different NGOs and international health organizations.

Malaysia Help

  MALAYSIA HELPS FLOOD VICTIMS

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 : Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Razzaq has directed Putra One Malaysia Club to send 50 volunteers to Pakistan next month to complement Pakistan government’s efforts to provide relief to more than 20 million flood victims.  President of Putra One Malaysia Club, Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim informed this to High Commissioner for Pakistan in Malaysia, Masood Kahlid in a meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Datuk Abdul Aziz said an advance four-member team was being send to Pakistan on August 26 comprising doctors, logistics experts, guides and a researcher to assess the flood situation, determine the needs of the flood affected persons and make recommendations for an effective relief plan.
He said 37 male and seven female doctors assisted by 10 volunteers will be taking 20 tones of medicines, rice, flour, tents, blankets and mineral water with them.
During their stay in Pakistan, their priority would be to provide food and medical assistance to the flood affected persons in the most affected regions, he added.
Aziz said the team would keep close liaison with Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Pakistan Red Crescent Society and National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan to ensure that the humanitarian assistance was reaches to the most deserving people.
The team will be accompanied by a 10-member media team to cover the flood situation.
The High Commissioner thanked the government, civil society, and general public of Malaysia for providing generous humanitarian assistance in cash and kind.

Students Help

  STUDENTS HELP THROUGH ARMY

KARACHI, Aug 26 : The students of Beaconhouse Schools System Jubilee Campus handed over the flood relief goods for the flood affected people to Pak Army here on Thursday. The truck-load of relief items included mineral water bottles, biscuits, juice packets etc was handed over by the students at the Army Relief Centre.

The Relief Centre staff thanked the students for this noble gesture of assisting the flood victims.
It was also pointed out that Pakistan Army has already established Relief Centre in various parts of Karachi for collection of goods and relief items which are dispatched onward for flood affected people in Sindh.
These centers are functioning at COD near Drigh Road (Telephone No.5606702-5, Transit Camp (Tel No. 5605600), Old Race Course Ground (Tel No. 5602091), Forum near Shon Circle (Tel No. 5604714), Khadda Market near Zamzama DHA (Tel No. 4955605).

ARMY RESCUE

  PAK ARMY RESCUE

KARACHI, Aug 26 : An emergency rescue mission sent by Army helicopters to evacuate people trapped near Sarjani Bund was successfully completed. Dozens of helpless villagers were rescued and brought to safe places and were given first aid medical treatment.An ISPR statement here said that more than 150 families are given rations in Shadadkot and nearby area.As many as 25,000 people were served with cooked meals in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shadadkot, Qamber, Thatta, Manjhand Boobuk and Qubo Sayed Khan whereas 1,000 people were given medical treatment in affected areas by mobile medical teams of Pakistan Army.

More than 3,000 people rescued from different affected areas to safe places.
Besides above, Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Shahid Iqbal, and GOC Major General Shaukat Iqbal, inspected and analysed the breach at Sarjani Bund on River Indus.
Army engineer troops, machinery and additional troops alongwith vehicles also moved from Hyderabad to plug the breachers and rescue the marooned people.

ANJELINA JOLIE

 ANJELINA JOLIE HELP

ANJELINA JOLIE Helps By contributing $100,000 toward the flood-ravaged victims of Pakistan, Hollywood glam girl Angelina Jolie has overtaken the help extended by most Pakistani politicians, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

Jolie was overcome with emotion at the “compassion fatigue” affecting the flood victims in Pakistan, which made the actor go for such a huge donation to help rescue and relief work. Jolie, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, donated from her own pocket and indicated that she might also pay a visit to the country once the media hype was over.
Since July 28, heavy rains have washed away thousands of villages, rendering 1,600 villagers dead while 20 million were rendered homeless throughout the country. In addition, there is widespread fear of epidemics breaking out in the camps where the flood survivors have taken shelter.

PM GILANI ASSURES COMPENSATION

 PM ASSURES DAMAGE COMPENSATIONS PAYMENT SOONEST

HYDERABAD, Aug 25 - Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that assessment of the losses to the life and property caused by the flood in various parts of the country would be completed in shortest possible time for expediting compensation and rehabilitation of millions of displaced people.He  said   all losses including those of human life,   livestock, property and crop destruction would be assessed shortly so that the flood victims people could get early relief and be rehabilited without any delay.He said this  while talking to newsmen  at the Hyderabad Airport after visiting Hyderabad district on Wednesday . 

The Prime Minister was briefed on the flood situation at the Kotri Barrage as well losses caused by the flood in Kotri Barrage Command area by the officers of the concerned departments at Irrigation Rest House Jamshoro.
The Prime  visited the relief camp at Hyderabad and  took an aerial view of the areas marooned during passage of superflood from different parts of Hyderabad district.
The Prime Minister said that he was visting this place to   review the situation for himself and meet with the members of the Parliament from the area so that a comprehensive strategy could be formed for the benefit of flood victims.
The government has taken urgent steps in flood hit areas by providing rescue and relief to flood victims, he said and added that the affected people have been accommodated in the relief camps where food items, clean drinking water, medicines, tents and other essential goods are still required in large quantity.   
He said the government would take all steps for  the rehabilitation of the flood affected people of the  country .
The Prime Minister said  that the courage of the people  remained high and with the cooperation of the masses, the government would succeed in providing maximum relief  to the victims.
The Prime Minister said that the government had decided to immediately provide initial  grant of Rs. 20,000 to each family of the flood victims  while their complete rehabilitation would be carried out after assessment of losses.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that entire world is extending full cooperation to Pakistan and the donation of the world community to flood hit people is beyond the expectations.
He thanked the world community for extending full support to Pakistan in this time of crisis.   
The Prime Minister said that meeting of the Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Peoples Party would be convened to discuss the situation and prepare a comprehensive strategy for providing relief to flood victims.
He also appealed to party workers to help  the flood affected people with national spirit in a disciplined manner in their respective areas.
Responding to a question about the breach in Torri Bund, the Prime Minister said that breaches occurred at the protective bunds in different parts of the country and it is the responsibility of the provincial governments to conduct inquiries to probe into the causes of the breaches in their respective provinces.
Among others, Speaker national Assembly Dr. Fahmida Mirza, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Federal Trade Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar, Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Bhurgari, Sindh Minister for Special Education Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed, MNAs, MPAs and PPP leaders were also present on the occasion

PM GILANI ORDERS

 PM ORDERS CHAIRMAIN PTA

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday urged the Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to ensure the reconstruction of telecommunication infrastructure in the flood-hit areas to strengthen the relief activities. The Prime Minister said this while talking to Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman PTA at PM House.  The PTA Chairman presented the Prime Minister a cheque of Rs 654,468 for Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister appreciated the kind gesture of PTA employees who contributed one day’s salary to help their distressed brethren in flood-hit areas.
The Chairman PTA apprised the Prime Minister of the damage caused to telecom infrastructure in flood affected areas and also various ways devised by PTA for early reconstruction of the network.