The United States Friday announced an additional $20 million disaster aid grant to Pakistan after torrential rains and ravaging floods that have inundated and damaged different parts of the country, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel Friday.

US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power announced that America, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $20 million to help people affected by severe monsoon flooding in Pakistan.

This aid is in addition to the previous $30 million aid for the flood survivors of Pakistan, she added.

Samantha Power also said that the effects of the floods have been widely felt throughout Pakistan. “According to an estimate, 33 million people have been affected by the floods. “About 1,400 have died while more than 12,700 people are injured, she said, adding that infrastructure has been destroyed. An estimated 13.8 million acres of farmland, thousands of miles of roads, and hundreds of bridges have been destroyed.

Samantha Power said that since August 12, the United States has provided more than $50.1 million in disaster assistance to help the people of Pakistan. With these additional funds, USAID partners will continue to provide emergency relief supplies, cash assistance, shelters, livelihoods, logistics, and humanitarian response coordination systems, she maintained.

She vowed that USAID will prioritize water sanitation and hygiene assistance as a preventive measure to reduce the expected spread of waterborne diseases in flood-hit areas.

Reporter:  Rozeena Ali