More U.S. aid arrives in flood-ravaged Pakistan

More aid arrives as Pakistan's situation remains dire. With some 20 million people, or one-fifth of Pakistan's population affected, and a cost of 1,600 lives in the wake of the disastrous flooding, about 4.6 million residents are now homeless in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, with millions who are still in urgent need of basic supplies. (Pashto language) Mohammad Tahir, flood victim (M): We spent some nights there on the top of the hill. The people who have relatives in safe areas in that area got shelter from them and those who don't are going here and there in search of shelter to escape the waters. Pakistani officials say that the waters have not yet receded in tens of thousands of villages, and 2.2 million acres of crops have been destroyed in Punjab province alone. (Pashto language) Gul Meena, flood victim (F): We suffered a lot, we had a lack of clean water and had to drink flood water. Health officials have rising concerns about the spread of waterborne and other diseases, with Daniel Toole, regional director for South Asia United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) saying, "We have women and children at risk, not in the hundreds of thousands, but in the millions." (SOUNDBITE in English) Daniel Toole, regional Director for South Asia, UNICEF: We need rapid, huge support. There are millions of people displaced. What I've seen in the last 24 hours is people who have lost everything. If you look in this camp, if you look inside a tent, there is almost nothing inside the tent. Because people have lost everything they've owned. Apart from health issues, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has warned of the possible famine Pakistan may face if farmers miss the sowing season, which starts next month. It is in light of these concerns that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had appealed for US$460 million in emergency aid for the country, and by Wednesday, August 18, the United Nations reported that nearly 60% of the funds had been fulfilled. On Thursday, the European Union increased its aid to a total contribution of US$135 million. Kristalina Georgieva -- European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response: We have mobilized virtually, the first day, it was clear that the monsoons, this year, are turning into a killer. This announcement followed Japan's pledge of US$10 million and Australia's of US$21.6 million on Tuesday. The United Kingdom also doubled its initial offer to more than US$90 million in humanitarian assistance, with an appeal to the British public that has raised nearly another US$30 million for relief materials. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed an additional pledge of US$60 million, raising the total donation to US$150 million. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhailwal announced a donation of US$1 million as he stated, "Even though this aid amount is far less than what is really needed by the flood victims...our government wants to express its solidarity with our brothers and sisters hit by floods." Individuals are also making contributions, such as Hollywood actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie who is donating US$100,000 to help refugees displaced by the floods. Interior Minister Rehman Malik of the Pakistani government assured international donors that funds will go directly to the people in need, with the government considering the addition of independent auditors to ensure transparency. (English) Amjad Jamal, World Food Programme (WFP) Spokesperson (M): WFP is scaling up its operation, providing food to more than six million people affected by the flood. It still remains a challenge, and of course, logistics is a bigger challenge when roads are gone, bridges have gone down. We need international assistance as quickly as possible. Our thankfulness, all international community members who are sending urgently needed help to Pakistan as we send our sincere appreciation to Pakistan's government and personnel for their earnest efforts to assist fellow citizens at this difficult time. May Allah grace the Pakistani people with strength and resilience in rebuilding their lives as we pray that such disastrous conditions are alleviated with our kinder care for each other and the ecosphere.