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TechnoratiIndia quadruples Pakistan flood aid as new towns threatened
India on Tuesday offered another 16 million euros in flood aid to Pakistan, the country's foreign minister said, boosting efforts to build good will between the estranged neighbours. The donation comes as floodwaters swept towards two small southern Pakistani towns and authorities managed to finally plug a breach in defences across the Indus river at nearby Thatta city.
India’s 16 million euro offer of aid brings India’s total contribution to Pakistan’s disaster relief to 20 million euros.
Pakistan initially delayed accepting India's first offer of flood aid, leading the United States to publicly urge Islamabad not to let rivalry stand in the way of helping its citizens in flood-ravaged regions.
The donation comes as Pakistani troops and city workers had been battling over the weekend to save the southern city of Thatta, with most of the population of 300,000 fleeing the advancing waters.
"Thatta city has been declared safe after a breach in the river caused by floods at nearby Faqir Jo Goth village was fully plugged," a senior city official said.
The fast-moving waters that left the town of Sujawal submerged on Sunday are now threatening the towns of Jati and Choohar Jamali, where official warnings have been issued to residents to evacuate.
Heavy and unprecedented monsoon rain has triggered massive floods that have moved steadily from north to south over the past month, engulfing a fifth of the country and affecting 17 million of Pakistan's 167 million people.
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