USA Intervention in Pakistan in Floods Disaster 2022 – For Relief to Mitigate our Grief – by – Tazeen Akhtar

Tazeen Akhtar

As climate change is playing havoc in Pakistan , the most deadly and disastrous are the heavy rains and floods that erase every infrastructure and life on vast areas of southern lands. The torrential rains and floods in from June to Oct 2022 left almost one third of the country drowned in water. Pakistan was worst hit country in the world. According to available facts and figures ,1,739 people, caused ₨ 3.2 trillion ($14.9 billion) of damage, ₨ 3.3 trillion ($15.2 billion) of economic losses. Pakistan declared a state of emergency and appealed for help to the world community. We mostly criticize USA for what we think intervention in our internal affairs but here the matter was about humanity. Thus USA rightly intervened in shape of relief assistance and material.

We have gathered information in detail about what support was extended from USA in this time of calamity and distress. Since the beginning of the floods, the United States has provided more than $215 million in flood relief, disaster resilience, and food security assistance for Pakistan, including:

· More than $80 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance through USAID to provide urgently needed supplies for those most affected, including support for food, nutrition, health, security, safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene, and shelter.

· An additional $100 million of recovery and reconstruction funding announced at the January 9 International Conference on Climate-Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, Switzerland.

· $10 million in food security assistance, which provides urgent supplies to help farmers recover – like seeds and fertilizer – as well as assistance repairing damaged critical irrigation infrastructure.

· $2 million in humanitarian assistance for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) flood response in Pakistan to provide lifesaving resources to Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan.

· More than $1.9 million in U.S. Department of Defense funding to help airlift USAID supplies.

· $3 million for new early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience funding to support Pakistan’s ability to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters such as floods.

· An additional $16.4 million in nutrition and food security support, early recovery, resilience, and risk reduction assistance announced in June 2023 to provide life-saving food and nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to more than 4 million people in flood-affected communities.

Private American citizens and U.S. companies have donated food, medicine, and other relief supplies, and at least $37 million dollars to help the people of Pakistan in this time of need.
U.S. flood relief assistance complements the efforts of the U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance, which advances cooperation in agriculture, clean energy, and water to support climate resilience, energy transformation, and inclusive economic growth.

A bad works man always quarrels with his own tools. To blame others for one’s own failures is common in our societies and communities. But the right thing is , when you blame others for what you thing is not right , you are supposed to appreciate the others when they come for your rescue. We welcome USA’s intervention in our difficult time and admire the role US gov,authorities,companies and citizens played to contribute in the form of restoration, relief to mitigate our grief.