US raises contribution for Pak flood victims to 55 million dollars

Washington, Aug 11 (ANI): The United States has announced an additional 20 million dollars for Pakistan flood victims, bringing its contribution to that country to 55 million dollars to date.

"This disaster is so vast ... and as we get better insight into the scope, our contribution may well grow as well," said US Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Daniel Feldman while announcing the new package.

"We obviously are closely monitoring what is an unfolding and ongoing disaster in Pakistan," said PJ Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

Feldman said that since the weather in Pakistan on Tuesday was good, US helicopters were able to fly and move about 100,000 pounds worth of humanitarian commodities and transported more than 700 Pakistanis stranded in the remote areas.

"Just as the flood is moving south, we are going to move south. We are going to expand those activities with new organisations and existing organizations," The Dawn quoted Feldman, as saying.

At the White House, a senior official declared that US-Pakistan relationship was "much bigger" than the war against terrorists and that's why Washington was eager to help Pakistan cope with the floods.

"We ... look at every one of the requests that come in through official channels to make sure that we are doing all we can to help alleviate some of the terrible human tragedy that is happening over there," White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said.

When asked whether the militants were using the floods to expand their influence, Burton said: "We certainly hope that they are not using this opportunity to inflict even more pain on the people of Pakistan." (ANI)