The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:
On September 8, Administrator Samantha Power began her trip to Pakistan by visiting Sindh Province to view the extensive flood damage, meet with people of Pakistan affected by one of the country’s worst-ever natural disasters and speak with those on the ground responding to the crisis.
The Administrator began her day by joining the Pakistani military and USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team leader for a flyover of Sindh Province, the disaster’s epicenter, to view the extent of the damage and destruction to homes, roads, bridges, and farm land caused by severe flooding, as well as landslides and glacial lake outbursts. The Administrator then visited Dadu District, in southern Pakistan, where she met with flood survivors and spoke with families who were forced to leave their homes and livelihoods. The Administrator also spoke with Pakistani military officials leading the response about their most acute needs, the status of ongoing rescue work and projections on water movement and future displacement.
Administrator Power then traveled to Sukkur where she met with Pakistani military members as well as U.S. military members who had just arrived on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft. The aircraft was carrying equipment needed to establish a logistics hub that will be used to get much needed relief supplies to the people of Pakistan. This aircraft was the first of several that will be transporting relief supplies to Pakistan from USAID’s Dubai warehouse over the coming days.