United States Aids Pakistani Flood Victims

As the misery from the monsoon flooding in Pakistan continues to grow, the United States is pouring assistance in to the country. Through the U.S. military and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), both supplies and funding is being delivered. USAID reports that over $90 million of funding has been committed for Pakistani flood relief by the various agencies of the U.S. government. The military is also providing aircraft and support personnel for rescue and relief flights within and to Pakistan.

The annual monsoon rains began July 22. By the end of the month, it was apparent that the rains were far heavier than normal. Flooding, including flash flooding, was seen throughout the mountains and hill country of both northwest and northeast Pakistan. The Swat valley, notorious for hosting the Taliban insurgents, was especially hard hit. As it continued to rain, and the flood waters flowed onto the plains, the situation became dire for many Pakistanis.

The Indus River provides the drainage for most of Pakistan. While there are a variety of flood control and irrigation measures in and around the river, the infrastructure was not designed for flood control. Rather, it is intended to provide fresh water for agriculture in the river valley and surrounding plain. The provinces of Punjab and, downstream, Sindh, make up the majority of the Indus plain.

The latest United Nations' report on the flooding states that 15.4 million people have been affected. 1,402 people are dead and 893,000 homes have been damaged. With the normal monsoon season lasting into September, the prospects for the flooding to subside are slim.

The U.S. military currently is providing 11 helicopters and three cargo planes. An additional 19 helicopters will be arriving from the 15^th Marine Expeditionary Unit as flying conditions allow. The 15^th MEU aviation assets are aboard the USS Peleliu off the Pakistani coast. Support personnel for the aircraft will be landed. The Marine ground element of the MEU will remain aboard ship and not land in Pakistan. The MEU will be replaced by elements off the USS Kearsarge when it arrives on station.