Australia to give 5 millions AUD in aid to Pakistan

The Australian government on Monday announced to provide five million Australian dollars (4.5 million U.S. dollars) in aid to Pakistan after the country was devastated by the worst flash floods in more than eight decades.

More than 1,100 people have died and dozens of villages ravaged in the worst floods to hit Pakistan since 1929.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said the floods, which occurred between Wednesday and Friday last week, had caused widespread damage to infrastructure, livestock and property across the country.

Smith announced on Monday that Australia will provide two million Australian dollars (1.8 million U.S. dollars) of humanitarian assistance through the United Nations managed- Pakistan Emergency Response Fund and international Red Cross/ Crescent Movement.

An additional three million Australian dollars (2.7 million U.S. dollars) package will be provided to help humanitarian agencies, including Australian non-government organizations in Pakistan to help with recovering and rebuilding.

Smith said the risk of water borne diseases, including cholera, remained a great concern in Pakistan. Approximately 150,000 families in Pakistan required immediate emergency assistance such as food, clean drinking water, tents and medical services.

Source: Xinhua