Zardari urges world community to help Pak flood victims

Pakistan

Zardari urges world community to help Pak flood victims

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11 August,2010 11:20 pm

flood victims President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday advocated the need for continued support for Pakistans gigantic flood recovery task ahead as the country also strives to overcome several challenges simultaneously and move toward national renewal. He said in dealing with the widespread flooding over huge swathes of Pakistani territory, the country faces a new test of its national character, and underscored the fact that the challenge follows a spate of political tragedies for the nation and in the midst of a costly ongoing fight against militants operating in the region. The president referred to his just-concluded visit to France and Britain, during which the two European countries announced millions of dollars in flood relief assistance, and said he has been making efforts to mobilise immediate international assistance to alleviate sufferings of the victims of the natural disaster, Zardari wrote in The Wall Street Journal. Drawing attention to widespread flood devastation, President Zardari observed that unprecedented monsoon rains and flooding have afflicted losses on a massive scale.As the floods hit the country, the president said, he faced a dilemma as head of state vis-a-vis his previously scheduled visit. He said, I could stay in Pakistan and support the prime minister in our response to the floods, or I could continue with a scheduled visit abroad. I chose to use my travels to mobilize foreign assistance money, supplies, food, tents, medical care, engineers, clean water and medicine for our people. Some have criticized my decision, saying it represented aloofness, but I felt that I had to choose substance over symbolism, he remarked, while defending his decision to proceed with the visit.