PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR IN TURKISH CAPITAL CALLS FOR HELP AFTER FLOOD DISASTER

ANKARA (A.A) - 19.08.2010 - Pakistan's ambassador in the Turkish capital has called on the international community to extend help to his country after a devastating flood disaster that killed thousands of people and left millions of survivors homeless.   
In an interview with the AA correspondent, Pakistani Ambassador to Turkey Tariq Azizuddin said that nearly 20 million people had been affected by the floods and landslides stemming from the heavy Monsoon rains that started late July in Pakistan. 
"A 165,000 square-meter area is currently under water. This equals to the 20 percent of Pakistan's total surface area," the ambassador said.
Azizuddin noted that more than 2,000 people had lost their lives in the disaster so far, adding casualties were likely to rise as more number of bodies would be discovered once the flood waters lowered.
"This is the first time the region suffers such a major disaster," Azizuddin said, adding victims needed food, water, medicine and temporary shelters.
Noting that the Pakistani government used all its resources to meet the needs that have arisen after the flood, Azizuddin said, "We call on the international community to help us, because the situation we are faced with is much beyond our capacity".
Upon a question on whether international aid campaigns initiated after the flood were sufficient, Azizuddin said the number of campaigns kept increasing and international media as well as the Turkish press did a good job in showing the world the size of the disaster.
Pointing to Turkey's sending a significant amount of aid materials right after the developments in Pakistan, the ambassador said, "I believe Turkey will carry on with its help. Governments do the best they can, but the important thing is what the Turkish people will do".
When asked about his expectations from Turkey, Azizuddin said his people needed basic aid materials such as drugs, tents, blankets and food in the short-term, and assistance for infrastructure and superstructure activities in the longer period.
"We always do whatever we can. If we have a piece of bread in our hands, we share it with the ones in need. This is the spirit that ties us to Turkey," Azizuddin said.
The ambassador also said that the cost of remedying the damage Pakistan incurred due to the flood disaster would reach 10 billion USD.