Foreign and Military Affairs

Chinese relief aid handed over to Pakistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-05 21:37

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ISLAMABAD - Another relief aid of $50,000 from China Red Cross was handed over to Pakistan on Thursday after the humanitarian aid worth 10 million yuan ($1.48 million) from the Chinese government has been distributed to the flood-ravaged areas in Pakistan.

Accepting the help from China, Nadeem Ahmed, Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority, said that China is the first country to deliver relief goods to Pakistan in this time of need, reflecting the special friendly relations between the two neighboring nations.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian said China is willing to help the flood-hit Pakistanis to weather the historic disaster and China hopes the Pakistani government can make smooth advance in rescue, relief and reconstruction.

Pakistan kicked off an emergency rescue and relief operation on July 30 after declaring an emergency in the flood-struck northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

With more than 3.2 million people affected by monsoon rains and flooding in northern Pakistan, humanitarian aid from China has arrived at a time when people are losing all hope.

Over 1,500 people died and about 3 million are left homeless as Pakistan witnessed the most devastating flood in its history.

With lack of resources to overcome the enormous damage, Pakistan appealed to the international communities to assist the affected people, as diarrhea and other waterborne diseases could fast become the biggest killer in this emergency.

The first to step forward is China. Three planes from China arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday, carrying relief materials including water filtration plants, generators, tents and medical kits.