Pakistan appeals to US public for aid
Sunday, May 24, 2009
21 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Pakistan on Friday appealed to the US public to make small donations through their cellphones to help care for some 1.7 million people displaced in a major campaign against Islamic extremists.
Ambassador Hussain Haqqani called on Americans to donate five dollars each by sending text messages and voiced hope that television networks would encourage the effort.
The funds are to provide food, clothing, medicine and other relief goods channeled through the United Nations, which earlier Friday called on the world to contribute a total of 543 million dollars.
"Every American can contribute this small amount and help the displaced people," said Nadeem Kiani, press attache at the embassy.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to take part.
"The Secretary-General urges the international community to show their solidarity with the people of Pakistan by supporting the Humanitarian Response Plan launched today in Islamabad, and the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan presented yesterday by the Government of Pakistan," his spokesperson said in New York.
Ban "is concerned that Pakistan is currently witnessing rapid displacement on a massive scale ... (and) stresses the urgency of raising the 544 million dollars requested in the appeal to address the critical needs of the affected population and assist in the normalization of their lives," she added.
Pakistan says more than 1,050 militants and 58 soldiers have been killed in the offensive, which followed US criticism accusing Islamabad of a weak response to Islamic extremists.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday announced 110 million dollars in emergency aid to Pakistan and said that she and State Department employees had already made the text-message donations.
US cellular users can make five-dollar donations by texting "Swat" to the number 20222
Source
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Pakistan on Friday appealed to the US public to make small donations through their cellphones to help care for some 1.7 million people displaced in a major campaign against Islamic extremists.
Ambassador Hussain Haqqani called on Americans to donate five dollars each by sending text messages and voiced hope that television networks would encourage the effort.
The funds are to provide food, clothing, medicine and other relief goods channeled through the United Nations, which earlier Friday called on the world to contribute a total of 543 million dollars.
"Every American can contribute this small amount and help the displaced people," said Nadeem Kiani, press attache at the embassy.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to take part.
"The Secretary-General urges the international community to show their solidarity with the people of Pakistan by supporting the Humanitarian Response Plan launched today in Islamabad, and the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan presented yesterday by the Government of Pakistan," his spokesperson said in New York.
Ban "is concerned that Pakistan is currently witnessing rapid displacement on a massive scale ... (and) stresses the urgency of raising the 544 million dollars requested in the appeal to address the critical needs of the affected population and assist in the normalization of their lives," she added.
Pakistan says more than 1,050 militants and 58 soldiers have been killed in the offensive, which followed US criticism accusing Islamabad of a weak response to Islamic extremists.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday announced 110 million dollars in emergency aid to Pakistan and said that she and State Department employees had already made the text-message donations.
US cellular users can make five-dollar donations by texting "Swat" to the number 20222
Source
Labels: America, IDPs, Militants, Refugees, Swat Operation, Taliban, Terrorism, US Pakistan Relations
posted @ 10:06 AM,
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