U.S. to provide $100 Million of humanitarian aid to Pakistan

Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 14:53 IST
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Washington: The U.S. plans to provide $100 million of humanitarian aid to Pakistan as part of the Obama administration's new strategy for countering the appeal of Taliban militants, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday. "Providing this assistance is not only the right thing to do but we believe it's essential to global security and the security of the United States," she said at a news conference at the White House. "And we are prepared to do more as the situation demands." The Obama administration is determined to help approximately two million Pakistani refugees who have fled fighting in the country's Swat Valley and are living in squalid tent cities, she said. "I'm confident that Pakistan's institutions and citizens will succeed in confronting this humanitarian challenge if the international community steps up and provides the support that is needed," she said. In addition to the $100 million from the State Department, the Defence Department has pledged $10 million for used water trucks, halal food and large tents with environmental units, such as air conditioning, for hot weather.
Source: IANS