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This is an archive article published on August 17, 2010
Pak yet to respond to flood relief offer
India is willing to provide more aid to Pakistan grappling with the worst-ever floods in its history that have affected more than 20 million people and left at least 1,600 dead....
Written by Express News Service
New Delhi | August 17, 2010 01:57 AM IST
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2 min read
India is willing to provide more aid to Pakistan grappling with the worst-ever floods in its history that have affected more than 20 million people and left at least 1,600 dead even as it awaits Islamabads response on finalising a mechanism to disburse the US 5 million it had offered earlier,sources said on Monday.
But while India is keen to provide more assistance,it is treading with caution,given that aid offered by New Delhi to the Pakistan in the past has been under-utilised,the sources said. India had pledged 25 million in the aftermath of the earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005,but the aid was not utilised as Islamabad did not place orders for relief material to Indian companies. However,relief material sent in trucks to the border was used after minor delays.
On Friday,External Affairs Minister S M Krishna called up Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and offered 5 million for flood relief as a gesture of solidarity with the people of Pakistan in this hour of need. However,Islamabad is yet to inform New Delhi how it wants to utilise the aid,the sources said.
Indias offer of more assistance comes after the UN called on the international community to provide 460 million to deal with the immediate aftermath of the floods. So far,only one-third of the amount has been pledged.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,who visited the affected areas Sunday,said floods have affected one fifth of the country. Floods have affected the countrys agricultural regions and its feared in the long run Pakistan may need massive assistance to make up for agricultural loss,of about 1 billion.
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