Norway redoubles financial aid for Pakistani flood victims

Published on Sunday, 19th September, 2010 at 22:16 under the news category, by Ramona Tancau and Michael Sandelson.

Norway has decided to double its financial aid for Pakistan’s flood victims once more, contributing a total of $66 million.

This year’s floods in Pakistan are the worst ever in the country’s history and has hit a region as large as England. 20 million people have been directly affected to date.
“The floods in Pakistan are among the worst natural disasters the world has seen in recent times. Extreme weather has forced millions to flee their homes. […] The destructive forces of nature have laid vast agricultural areas waste and have set the country back many years,” Erik Solheim, Minister of the Environment and International Development says in a press release.
“We must reach vulnerable groups like children and women with clean water, tents, blankets and food. We must also do everything in our power to stop the wave of disease that comes with the dirty flood waters," he continues.

Norway has already provided Pakistan with approximately $19 million, but the country’s leaders decided that more Norwegian involvement was needed after State Secretary Ingrid Fiskaa’s visit to assess the severity of the situation in Pakistan earlier this month.
According to Fiskaa, women and children in particular need assistance because they are falling victims not only to the natural disaster consequences, but also to human violence.
“I am particularly concerned about children, pregnant women and widows. We have received reports of sexual violence in camps for displaced people and in villages where homes are destroyed. We must  take care of vulnerable groups especially," she said.
The UN has also appealed for increased international assistance, estimating that about $2 billion are needed to help Pakistani people for the first year following the disaster.
Norwegian funds will be channeled through UN humanitarian organizations, the Red Cross and other similar bodies that have experience with administering financial aid efficiently.
“The situation is still highly critical for nine million people. We must now show our solidarity with the flood victims. The Norwegian Government is therefore providing additional emergency relief to Pakistan,” says Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Readers who wish to donate money can do so by using:

1. Kirkens Nødhjelp (NCA), account number 1602.40.26535, or Kr 200 by phoning 820 44 004, or online.
2. Norsk Folkehjelp (Norwegian People’s’ Aid), account number 9001.05.00000, or Kr 200 by phone on 820 44 750.
3. Røde Kors (Norwegian Red Cross), account number 8200.06.10190, or Kr 200 by phoning 820 44 001.

Comment :  We think that what norwey do really good.They supplied so many things to Paskistani flood victims.it helps the victims so much to preserve their life.