China pledges more aid for flood-hit Pak after US’ appeal to “step up to the plate”

ISLAMABAD - Pledging more aid for flood-hit Pakistan, China has said it would be sending more relief material for the thousands of people affected by the worst deluge to have hit the country in the past 80 years.

China, which has already donated 8.8 million dollars towards flood relief, would be sending 1000 more tents and other emergency relief material to Pakistan in the coming few days.

Beijing’s announcement has come after President Obama’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan appealed it to “step up to the plate” to help Islamabad to cope with the floods, which has submerged nearly one-fifth of the country.

According to a statement posted on China’s defence ministry’s website, the aid, which includes 69 sets of machines such as generators, draining and water-purification devices, would be airlifted to Pakistan in coming few days.

Over 1500 people have been killed in the catastrophe and according to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi nearly 20 million people have been hit. (ANI)