Statement by Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan

Rosemary A. DiCarlo
Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

August 11, 2010

AS DELIVERED

Thank you Under-Secretary-General Holmes, Ambassador Haroon, and Mr. Mogwanga for your thorough briefing.

The government and people of the United States would like to express our deepest concerns and sympathy for the millions of Pakistanis who have been affected by the severe flooding.  And we extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the flooding.

The United States stands ready to provide timely assistance to save lives and reduce suffering in those communities hit by the flooding.  We are working in support of the Government of Pakistan's relief effort to get aid as rapidly as possible to those in need.

My government has pledged to provide $71 million in assistance to flood-affected populations. This money is being provided to UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to provide emergency shelter, food, health care, clean water and sanitation.

We have delivered over 400,000 ready-to-eat meals to Pakistan and 12 pre-fabricated steel bridges to enable the delivery of much-needed assistance to areas isolated by the flooding.

Additionally, we have deployed a six-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Pakistan to work in support of the Government of Pakistan and manage the overall U.S. response effort.

We have also dispatched U.S. military helicopters to support relief and rescue operations in partnership with the Pakistani military.  Together they have rescued approximately 2300 people and transported over 200,000 pounds of relief supplies.

Mr. Chairman, the United States will carefully study the Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan launched today here in New York and continue to coordinate our humanitarian assistance closely with the government of Pakistan and the United Nations. 

Thank you very much.

###