Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the U.S. will provide $100 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to the growing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Pakistan. Clinton, in the White House press briefing Tuesday, told reporters, “We face a common threat, a common challenge, and now a common task. We have seen an enormous amount of support and determination out of the Pakistani government, military, and people in the last weeks to tackle the extremist challenge.”
There has been a growing recognition in Washington that the United States needs to redefine its approach to Pakistan, “and a growing number of Pakistan and counterterrorism experts have concluded that a crucial missing ingredient in U.S. policy was closer contact with the Pakistani people,” reported the Christian Science Monitor.
Frederick Barton, co-director of the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told the Monitor,
For the last year, the consensus in Washington has been that we needed to create a stronger link to the Pakistani people, that that was in fact the missing link in our relations with a critical part of the world. This is a terrific first step to show we do care about the Pakistani people and not just about Afghanistan or terror.
In her briefing today, Clinton announced the American people can also participate in this new humanitarian initiative. By texting “SWAT” to 20222, anyone in the United States can make a $5 donation to the UN High Commissioner’s Office for Refugees (UNHCR) for use in the Swat Valley crisis.
So please, if you are based in the U.S., text in your donations! I am also pasting Clinton’s briefing in its entirety below, which was refreshing and well worth watching:
I just texted to test it out – the number texts you back to confirm the $5 donation (they charge your phone bill, no need for credit cards), so text back “Yes,” and you’re good to go. Apparently, you can max out on the 5th time ($25 dollar max).
I just sent the text as well. Money goes to UNCHR, which is soon going to call for $500 million in contributions. Join on facebook, too … http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114749917264
Thanks Basim!
Thanks Kulsoom. Added the text info to me blog.
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Kals – you are awesome!!!!!! 🙂 x
I am on it!
Also, just wanted to point out the ‘World Food Program’ logo on those bags of food…
I was able to tune in to the press briefing yesterday and I must say that I was really impressed. The US gov’t is showing urgency and drawing attention to how serious the IDP situation in Pakistan is. I also sent a text msg– thanks for posting the info, Kalsoom!
Thanks guys!
And JTD, that is the WFP! They are doing great work for the displaced right now.
This is such a great initiative. Not only is it easy to donate but I know its going to a GREAT organization that has already done so much work for refugees and displaced people around the world. Thank you SO much for sharing this.
Thanks O. And for everyone’s info, here is the breakdown of the $100 mill from State Dept:
$20 million from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to provide family relief kits, tents, FM radios, and generators that will provide light and water.
$26 million for the immediate purchase of wheat, other food, and related items from local sources.
$17 million from Food for Progress for 50,000 tons of wheat arriving in May and June.
$10 million to respond to forthcoming emergency appeals by the United Nations.
$15 million for shipments of food items such as lentils, dried peas, and other basic foodstuffs.
$12 million for an emergency response center for direct humanitarian needs.
In addition, there is $10 million from the U.S. Department of Defense:
$10 million to be used for water trucks, halal food, and large tents with environmental units, such as air conditioning, for hot weather.
i so hope and pray that this aid money is utilised properly… as for the text…thats only for the american people… does nt work in karachi…
Do they have a similar number in Europe as well? I’m guessing this one is just for the US, right? Or am I completely wrong? Let me know!
Thanks for the update and may I also add that I HOPE the money goes to where it is really needed. In the past, I may have stepped up and helped out BUT NOW I won’t be adding my $5 to the donation. I have done enough for my country but time and again I have been betrayed. We ourselves caused the problem. By we, I mean PAKISTANIS. Instead of pouring money to take care of the masses I would like to take on the Zardaris and the Gillanis and the rest of the politicians to show the world how they personally are helping. I don’t see any one of them pouring their $5 or for that matter five paisas. They took and took and will happily fatten their pockets some more. Who made the deal with the Talibans, who allowed this massacre to occur, who lives in lavish palaces….who….who….who. Enough I say, enough of helping clean up the mess left by these greedy, slimy politicians. A very sad and angry Pakistani.
Thank you for stopping by my blog!
I’m slow…but it’s done! And I too hope this goes where its needed. I just finished taking a housing/infrastructural development course on emerging markets and the statistics remain astonishing, despite decades of foreign aid “being flooded” into needy and deserving nations! This means that money is NOT enough.
Each one of us can contribute to building society. ,