U.S. Sends Humanitarian Aid To Pakistan

$110 Million Will Help Refugees Fleeing Violence In Swat Valley, May Bolster Image Of U.S.

(CBS/AP)  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday the United States was sending $110 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Pakistan, part of the administration's new strategy for countering the appeal of Taliban militants in the nuclear-armed American ally.

Clinton detailed the aid package at the White House, saying the money is flowing to ease the plight of about 2 million Pakistanis who have fled fighting in the country's Swat Valley and are living in squalid tent cities.

The White House said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had appointed Brig. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad to lead the Pakistani relief effort. He was highly praised for his work in the relief effort after the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir.

Pakistan's army is engaged in major combat in Swat, in response to attempts by armed Islamic militants to solidify their hold on the region. Pakistan reluctantly undertook the offensive under pressure from the United States after Taliban fighters had taken positions within 60 miles of the capital, Islamabad. The military says more than 1,000 insurgents have so far been killed in the fighting.

According to the Pentagon, it is the largest operation ever by the Pakistani military. It's exactly what the U.S. has been calling for, but it has spawned a refugee crisis with as many as 2 million villagers fleeing their homes. Pakistan is asking for help and the U.S. is eager to oblige, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

President Barack Obama has spoken of the need to improve the lives of people in both Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the administration's new plan for linking the U.S. fight against the resurgent Taliban in the two countries.

The Taliban has provided sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and his top al Qaeda leadership along the lawless and mountainous border shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The White House said $100 million in aid would flow from Clinton's State Department, with $10 million coming from the Pentagon.

The largest single expenditure is $26 million for the immediate purchase of wheat, other food and related items produced in Pakistan, the White House statement said.

"Pakistan welcomes the announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of over $100 million in emergency relief," said Pakistan's U.S. ambassador, Husain Haqqani. "It is a manifestation of the commitment of the United States to support the people of Pakistan and of the generosity of the U.S. people." He also encouraged those in the U.S to donate to help the refugees.

An advocacy group for refugees said the aid was "a very positive step" but added that much more is needed.

"However, this only amounts to a mere $55 per displaced person and these people will remain displaced for many months," said Patrick Duplat, of Refugees International. "To stabilize the country, the U.S. must provide many more resources to support two million displaced Pakistanis and protect them from further harm."

At the Pentagon, a spokesman said the United States was sending military assets to the region to help alleviate suffering, not with the explicit role of improving U.S. image abroad.

"They are in the midst of what arguably is the largest military operation ever undertaken by the Pakistani military, and they have shown a persistence in waging it, and we would want to be nothing but encouraging of them continuing to do so," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

"The effort to move people out of their homes and out of harm's way is about protecting them, ultimately."

Morrell said the Pentagon is sending C-17 cargo planes loaded with food, water and tents. The aid is not sent with the intent to improve public opinion of the United States, Morrell said.

"We provide relief because it's the right thing to do," he said.

"If there is an ancillary benefit in which people can see the true colors of the United States in that region - because they've been distorted in the propaganda campaigns of the Taliban and Al Qaeda and others - and can see Americans for who we truly are, which is a caring and helpful people, that is a positive benefit, no doubt about it."

It's a repeat of the aid effort the Bush administration mounted four years ago in Pakistan in the wake of a devastating earthquake. Since then, Pakistan has undergone a political earthquake in which terrorist attacks have more than quadrupled and large swaths of its frontier area have fallen under Taliban control, Martin reports.

The Pentagon would also like to send military advisers to help the Pakistani military plan and execute its operations against the Taliban, but so far the offer has been rejected, Martin reports.

[edward1975-2009]

We can't find money to fix education, social security, our own homeless problem, healthcare, and the list goes on, but we sure as heck can find it to help others. For once I would truly like to see American taxpayer dollars solve what ails this nation, and if we have any extra, then help someone else. Americans living in tent cities, due to unemployment and the mortgage crisis, children the second most impoverished class, end foreign aid till we are back on our feet, let the other developed nations handle the ball for a while. We have issues here we need to address.

[hungry1968-15]

i wonder if barack hold the same views as you that the ones who train their children from birth to hate and someone simply because of beliefs, and the ones who actually allied themselves with hitler and the nazis are the who should get all the sympathy
Posted by texmexfoo at 6:24 AM : May 20, 2009






The Palestinians don't hate Israel simply because of "beliefs".

They hate them because they evicted them out of their houses, and off of their lands.

[iowa0319]

Who's going to monitor the spending of the $110 million? I don't have much faith in the Pakistani government spending it on what it is intended for. Look at the $10 million Bush gave the other jar head, he never spent any of it on what he was supposed to. I'm sure he lined his own bank account. Yeah, lets keep giving away money that we don't have. What about the US citizens that are living in squalid conditions? How about helping those people first!

[Dgunner]

It wasn't four months pat everyone posted: blow thier a-ses out of the mountains. Well this doesn't come without a price.the fact that genocide has become the talibans strategy of choice in itself proves we are gaining on thier door step.Collateral damage in every battle is usually under calculated. If i could be sure that the money actually got to the place it was needed? I would sponsor a family. How many spent that much on ciggarettes or soda pop. this month or week. STILL THE IS NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE FOR OUR VETERANS SO THIS IS A VELIMA . SOULD I DONATE TO THE VFWS OR THE CHILD STARVING IN THE DESERT. i THINK MOST VFWS WOULD WANT YOU TO SEND THE MONEY TO FEED A CHILD.tHIER HEARTS ARE MOST ALWAYS IN THE RIGHT PLACE THOUGH THEY HAVE SUFFERED MUCH FOR THIER COUNTRY,

[didserve]

Stop all aid to these idiots!

they have nothing America needs!

[jwind1]

I fully approve and support President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton for their decisions on providing humanitarian aid for the displaced refugees of Pakistan. This aid will provide temporary help. The most dreaded thing anticipated is the cold of the next winter as the war drags on, but the Taliban militants will be expected to freeze to their deaths next February. Americans should respect and support the displaced Pakistani refugees who are doing their part to help resolve the elimination of the Taliban.
Posted by pensacola8-2009 at 7:41 PM : May 19, 2009

of course you would be against sending aid to pakistan if obama was against it....think for yourself....you embarrass yourself following obama on everything

[hungry1968-15]

Whattheheck for???? They seem to like the taliban SO much over there, why don't theyask THEM for humanitarian aid? **sheesh**

*walks away muttering to herself*
Posted by demongirl60 at 1:58 AM : May 20, 2009





Brilliant.

That's like saying that the captain of the Maersk Alabama "liked" the pirates that held him captive, because he didn't oust them from the lifeboat, even though they had him "under the gun".

It's no wonder that you're muttering to yourself.

[hungry1968-15]

100 million for pakistan while they fight the taliban,but 900 million to gaza(hamas) for what again?shooting missles into israel?
Posted by texmexfoo at 8:31 PM : May 19, 2009





And either amount is a tiny fraction of what we send to Israel, allowing them to continue their "lebensraum" onto Palestinians land, with fresh new settlements, occupied by Jewish squatters.

What's your point?

[johninpennsyl]

I would guess it really won't go to the needy,it usually buys bling for the dictators.Remember Imelda Marcos zillion shoes and undies?
With a government like this for a friend.......(you know the rest)

[demongirl60]

Whattheheck for???? They seem to like the taliban SO much over there, why don't theyask THEM for humanitarian aid? **sheesh**

*walks away muttering to herself*