Washington, July 23: The US announced another USD 165 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan, taking the total American assistance to nearly half a million ever since its Army launched a massive anti-Taliban operation in the country’s restive northwest.
The announcement was made by the Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke at a press conference in Islamabad.
The military action has displaced over two million people in the country, prompting Pakistan and the US to launch appeals for international humanitarian assistance.
The Obama administration has already given over USD 320 million to Pakistan for the Swat refugees.
In a fact sheet, the State Department said the USD 165 million will be channelled both to meet the ongoing needs of displaced persons, in camps and in host communities, and also to address their needs as they return to rebuild their homes in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan.
Of these USD 45 million will be provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to support locally driven rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, including water systems, health facilities, schools, roads and bridges maximising the use of local labour and resources.
–Agencies