The Baloch Hal NewsQUETTA: The United States has assured the government of Balochistan of Washington’s full assistance for relief and rehabilitation of flood-stricken people in Balochistan.
The top US diplomat for Sindh and Balochistan, Mr. William J. Martin, who heads the Karachi-based US consulate, met Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani and discussed at length the efforts for relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people. The US diplomat said his Government would continue to cooperate and try to meet the basic needs and requirements of the affected people in this Province.
Mr. William J. Martin said that the losses in recent floods are much greater than the 2005 earthquake which shook parts of Azad Kashmir and KP. He said that the US assistance is continuing for the flood affected. He said the US had provided 18 helicopters and using C-130 transport planes in transporting relief goods and food for the affected people in different regions.
Mr. William said that the United States would continue to provide financial and technical assistance for the flood affected in Balochistan. He revealed the USAID was playing an effective role in efforts for relief and rehabilitation work for the flood affected. It had developed an effective link and coordination with the PMDA and with its provincial branches. They are making assessment of the extent of damages and devastation in unprecedented floods.
Mr. William J Martin assured that the US assistance would be provided through the Government organizations and NGOs ensuring transparency and fair and just distribution of relief goods and food among the affected people. However, he added, the US Government will coordinate the efforts with the Government of Balochistan and will take it on board on all issues. He was of the view that cooperation and coordination with the Provincial administer was inevitable.
The US diplomat called for establishing a reliable and dependable distribution network to reach the affected people. The US Government would continue to give top priority to providing food, clean drinking water, health of women and children in its support to the flood affected people. The US would trying to improve the basic infrastructure by repairing and rebuilding it and economically rehabilitate the affected people making them productive again making the local economy stable and strong, the US diplomat said.
With the establishment of US Consulate in Balochistan, the development process in this region would get a big boost. In case of any ecological disaster, the people of Balochistan would get prompt American assistance, he said.
The Chief Minister responded positively to the goodwill and friendly gestures from the top US diplomat in Sindh and Balochistan and thanked his Government for the support in this time of natural disaster.
Nawab Raisani said that the Provincial Government was playing its due role in looking after the flood affected with its meagre resources. However, Balochistan needs massive assistance and aid from all the friendly countries and the United Nations to mitigate human suffering He thanked the US Consul General for assistance to the flood affected. The Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction over the US commitment and pledge to support the flood affected of Balochistan till rehabilitation of homeless people. He said that the biggest challenge the Government is facing return of affected people to their home and their resumption of gainful employment. He said a detailed survey is being conducted for the damages to Bundat, irrigational channel, land under cultivation, crops destroyed and the assessment would be made public soon.
Chief Secretary Mir Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri and Home Secretary gave a resume of the damages in the flood to the US diplomat. Focal Person Rahila Durrani, Secretary Finance and DG PMDA were also present on the occasion.
http://thebalochhal.com/2010/09/us-diplomat-pledges-assistance-for-baloch-flood-victims/
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