Kerry for more humanitarian aid to Pakistan to help displaced

A powerful US senator on Thursday asked Obama adminsitration to provide more humanitarian aid to Pakistan and commit its "military assets" to help the country cope up with people displaced due to the Army offensive against Taliban in the restive NWFP.

Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relation Committee said, "The humanitarian crisis in Swat gets worse every day, which is why it's so critical that the government of Pakistan and the Obama Administration undertake immediate joint relief operations modelled on our successful efforts following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake."

The statement came after Richard Holbrooke, the Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, announced in Islamabad another USD 200 million of humanitarian assistance for the Swat refugees. This is in addition to more than USD 170 already given to Pakistan in last one month.

"The US must commit military assets, such as Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, combat engineers and uniformed medical personnel that the Pakistani government needs to facilitate these efforts without further delay," he said.
 
"When terrorist groups such as Jamaat-ud Dawa are reportedly already operating relief camps in Swat, there is no basis for turning back the far more capable assistance of the United States military," he argued.