World ramps up flood aid to stricken Pakistan

[babylonsister]

World ramps up flood aid to stricken Pakistan
AP

By NAHAL TOOSI, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 20 mins ago


GHAZI AIR BASE, Pakistan – The world ramped up assistance to flood-ravaged Pakistan on Thursday three weeks after the crisis began, and U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Washington did not want Islamist extremists to come out of the disaster stronger.

The U.S., Germany and Saudi Arabia all announced new pledges of aid, while Japan said it would send helicopters to help distribute food, water and medicine. The Asian Development Bank said it would redirect $2 billion of existing and planned loans for reconstruction.

"If we don't do it quick, if we don't do it well, what will the Pakistani people think," said Juan Miranda, the bank's director general for Central and West Asia. "We have to put every road and every bridge back into the shape where they should be."

The floods have affected 20 million people and about one-fifth of Pakistan's territory, straining its civilian government as it also struggles against al-Qaida and Taliban violence. Aid groups and the United Nations have complained foreign donors have not been quick or generous enough given the scale of the disaster.

The United States has deployed 18 army helicopters to hard-hit areas and given other aid worth $90 million.

Kerry, who is visiting Pakistan to see the flood damage, said that would increase to $150 million. The figure is expected to be announced at a U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York on Thursday.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100819/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_floods

[aquart]

1. Helicopters. However many they have or get, it won't be enough.

Those pilots will be flying till they drop.

What's the distance range on a helicopter? Till the fuel runs out? How far can they get?

[babylonsister]

2. Negative much today? At least they're getting more aid, which

they hadn't been getting even 2 days ago.

[aquart]

3. More is better than none.

But I admit to being very negative about this because they have to completely change they way they deal with that area. They have to accept that this is the new normal and plan accordingly. That's huge. How does anyone deal with this? Where do you put the new roads? How do you design the new bridges so they won't be swept away. Can it be done?

I will be very happy to hear any good news about it, though.