India offers additional $20 million flood relief to Pakistan

The Indian government yesterday announced an additional $20 million (Rs94 crore) aid to neighbouring Pakistan, which is reeling under the worst floods in recent times.

The humanitarian gesture has come from the external affairs minister S M Krishna in the wake of Pakistan's readiness to accept India's initial aid offer of $5 million declared a fortnight ago, provided it is routed through the United Nations, as the flood-battered country does not wish to be seen accepting Indian assistance.

"As a more concrete assessment of the damage inflicted by this natural disaster and the urgent needs of the people of Pakistan emerges, government has decided to increase its assistance to Pakistan from $ 5 million, announced earlier, to $25 million" Krishna said in a statement.

Of the total aid, $20 million would be contributed to the 'Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan' launched by the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian efforts and the balance $5 million would be contributed to the World Food Programme for its relief efforts in Pakistan, Krishna further said.

Pakistan's Khyber-Paktunkhwa, Punjab and Sind provinces have been severely affected by the region's worst floods in the last 80 years, causing widespread damage to life and property. So far, around 1,600 people have been reported dead, and over 17 million people have been affected by the deluge.

More than 1.2 million houses have been damaged or destroyed besides extensive damage caused to infrastructure, crops and livestock.