US assures full support for flood affectees

US Ambassador in Pakistan Anne Patterson said that the United States has given more aid for flood affectees than any other country. She said that her country has confidence in Pakistan government on proper use of the aid. She said that the aid was being provided to the affectees through NDMA, UN and NGOs. In a press conference in Islamabad, she said that America had committed at least $87 million in aid and expected to give more in the coming days. More US helicopters are expected to join the 19 already dispatched to help ferry stranded Pakistanis and deliver food and other items, US envoy said. Patterson said it was too soon to fully understand the scale of the disaster. She downplayed concerns that extremists are winning flood victims' support through their own relief activities. US envoy said that Pakistan government should impose tax on rich people to collect more revenue to deal with emergency situations.