U.S. offers new aid to Pakistan for flood relief

The United States announced on Monday an additional 261 million dollars in aid to assist Pakistan in its relief and recovery efforts following devastating floods in late July.

The U.S. State Department said the aid package includes approximately 211 million dollars to support immediate relief efforts in Pakistan, and an additional 50 million dollars for initial recovery efforts to assist with rebuilding communities impacted by the floods.

In addition, "the U.S. also has provided civilian and military in-kind assistance in the form of halal meals, pre-fabricated steel bridges and other infrastructure support, as well as air support to and within Pakistan to transport goods and rescue people at an approximate value of 40 million dollars," the department said in a statement.

The U.S. aircraft have so far evacuated more than 13,000 people and delivered 5.4 million pounds of relief supplies to disaster areas in Pakistan, the statement said, adding that "we are also expanding pre-existing programs in flood-affected areas."

U.S. business and private citizens are also making contributions to assist the people of Pakistan, the department said.

Source: Xinhua