Sunday, February 12, 2012

Germany increases humanitarian aid for Pakistan to 25 million euros

August 27, 2010 by GW Editorial Staff  
Filed under NEWS

The Federal Government has stepped up its humanitarian aid for the flood victims in Pakistan by a further ten million to currently 25 million euros (approx. 32 million US dollars). The total contribution of the European Union and its Member States amounts to 164 million euros (approx. 210 million US dollars).

Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle today (19 August) issued the following statement:

“The scale of the floods in Pakistan is far greater than originally estimated. We must now assume up to 20 million people are affected.

That is why Federal Minister Dirk Niebel and I have decided to step up the Federal Government’s humanitarian aid for Pakistan by a further 10 million euros. With the help of our partner organizations, we will ensure this aid reaches those most at risk with all speed.

I appeal to the German people to respond generously to this disaster. Your donations can do a great deal to relieve the suffering in Pakistan.”

On 18 August Federal Minister Guido Westerwelle spoke on the telephone with his Pakistan counterpart Mahmood Qureshi, who gave him a detailed description of the situation on the ground as well as the humanitarian and medium- and long-term consequences of the floods.

In the face of this humanitarian crisis the Federal Minister expressed his profound sympathy for the people of Pakistan and promised German assistance and support. He gave an assurance that Germany would stand by Pakistan in its hour of need.

Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed his thanks for the German offer of help. Given the scale of the disaster, Pakistan urgently needed international assistance, he pointed out.

The Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development are both increasing their assistance by another 5 million euros. This brings Germany’s humanitarian aid for Pakistan from 15 million to currently 25 million euros.

As a member of the European Union and a range of international organizations Germany is also making considerable indirect contributions to the aid effort.

CHOKE GHODAR, PAKISTAN - AUGUST 27: Flood victims make their way along a major flooded road as the water level goes down in the Punjab region allowing some to head home on August 27, 2010 in Choke Ghodar, Pakistan. Pakistan is suffering from the worst flooding in 80 years, with government officials claiming as many as 20 million people have been affected by the flooding with 15 million seriously affected. Aid organizations and the government are struggling four weeks on with the widespread scale of the disaster, which has killed over 1,600 people and injured 2,000. The relief effort had improved in Sindh province but is still being hampered by logistical problems, including the ability to reach many of the victims. Pakistan has now received more than half of the $460 million appeal it issued last week to pay for humanitarian operations over the next three months, but the Taliban has hinted that it may launch attacks against foreign aid workers, calling their presence 'unacceptable'. The U.N has described the disaster as unprecedented, with over a third of the country under water, and the country's agricultural heartland has been devastated as rice, corn and wheat crops have been destroyed by the floods. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

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