The following is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss the response to Pakistan’s recent floods and hear how communities are faring in their recovery from the devastating disaster.
Administrator Power reinforced USAID’s commitment to providing lifesaving assistance to flood-affected communities and highlighted our most recent contribution, bringing the total U.S. assistance to Pakistan this year to $97 million. She shared how impactful it was to see firsthand the gravity of the floods and meet affected families when she visited Pakistan in September. The Foreign Minister thanked Administrator Power for the early and significant humanitarian response from the United States, which was critical for saving lives and drawing wider global attention to the severity of the impact.
The leaders also agreed on prioritizing commitments to strengthen Pakistan’s ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters related to climate change. They also noted that in addition to flood relief, ongoing development efforts are equally critical to the future of Pakistan, with a focus on helping the country be more climate-resilient, and promoting agricultural development, food security, health, and economic development.