China, Turkiye, and UAE are leading humanitarian efforts to help Pakistan in these devastating floods, which have killed nearly 1,200 people and left millions homeless. The floods have ruined lives, swept away roads, destroyed homes and crops, killed livestock and wiped out livelihoods.
In continuation of humanitarian assistance, two more Chinese relief flights carrying humanitarian aid were received today at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. Thus far, a total of 4 such relief flights from China, carrying 3000 tents and other relief goods, have landed in Pakistan.
Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force dispatched two Y20 cargo airplanes of humanitarian aid carrying some 3,000 tents to support flood-affected Pakistan, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“Chinese Air Force dispatched Y20 cargo airplane to deliver humanitarian supplies including 3000 tents to Pakistan. The supplies are expected to arrive in Karachi airport in Pakistan at 4.00 pm,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, had said during his regular briefing on Tuesday.
The spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry maintained that China and Pakistan had long been standing together through difficult times as all-weather, strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad friends, and have been responding to major challenges such as natural calamity shoulder to shoulder.
“We believe that with joint efforts of the Pakistani government and the people, the people in the affected areas can prevail over the flooding and reconstruct their homes,” Lijian hoped. “We feel for the difficulties facing Pakistan,” he added.
Two more Chinese aircraft carrying humanitarian aid arrived on August 31.
China’s planned assistance for Pakistan
Meanwhile, ZhengYuandon, a representative of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) said, the Chinese government had decided to provide 100 million yuan (around $14.5 million) of emergency humanitarian assistance, including 25,000 tents and other disaster relief materials urgently needed by flood-hit Pakistan.
Turkiye sends two more planes carrying relief supplies
Turkiye has sent a total of seven aircraft loaded with relief items to Paksitan over the past three days.
Two Turkish planes carrying tents, rations, medicines and other relief supplies for flood affectees landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on August 30. Turkish consul general in Karachi, Cemal Sangu, said two more planes carrying relief supplies are expected to arrive in Karachi.
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) also plans to establish a tent village in the Badin district. The tent village would be able to accommodate around 400 families and will have kitchens set up with hygiene kits and other facilities.
AFAD has sent humanitarian aid materials consisting of 10,000 tents, 50,000 food parcels, 50,000 hygiene materials and 10,000 parcels of baby food to the flood areas in the first stage.
The Turkish Red Crescent is already participating in relief activities in Balochistan, providing clean water and food to thousands of flood victims in the hardest hit province.
Meanwhile, Turkiye also sent 470 tons of relief items aboard a “Kindness Train” that departed from Ankara on August 20 and is expected to reach Pakistan in the next eight days.
UAE sends 7th flood relief consignment
In the last three days, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent seven flights carrying tons of food supplies, medicines, and tents to Pakistan. The UAE government has pledged to send 20 aircrafts full of flood relief supplies for Pakistan’s flood-stricken people.
The UAE Embassy in Islamabad, in cooperation with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian Foundation, is also distributing food baskets to a number of needy families in Islamabad. The distribution of food baskets is part of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s initiative to provide one billion meals.
Pakistan has thanked brotherly countries for their timely and valuable support in this time of unprecedented catastrophe.