ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar assuredthe nation that the armed forces would stand by the people in this hour ofneed.
Briefing the media persons at National Flood Response and CoordinationCenter in the country’s federal capital, DG ISPR said armed forcescontinued operations rescuing people and also provided them with reliefitems.
He addressed the situation as the National Flood Response CoordinationCentre on Saturday held a briefing on the ongoing rescue and relief effortsand expressed resolve to fight the devastating floods together.
DG ISPR said troops are coordinating with Rangers, Frontier Corps, disastermanagement authorities, civil administration, and welfare organisationsunder the Relief, Rescue, and Rehabilitation (RRR) strategy.
He mentioned the recent visit of the Army Chief to the flood-affected areasand made a detailed assessment, adding that all formations and seniorcommanders of the army were present in flood-affected areas and engaged inrelief operations.
The top general directed that Army will not abandon people in thisdifficult time, no matter how much time and effort it takes, Major GeneralBabar Iftikhar mentioned, adding 276 helicopters of Pakistan Army Aviationwere working in different areas of the country.
Recalling the miserable incident of the Lasbela chopper crash, DG ISPR saidsoldiers risked their lives to partake in relief activities, mentioning theaccident resulted in the death of six officers.
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He maintained that soldiers were working on rescue operations for the lasttwo months, treating it like a “sacred responsibility”. DG ISPR said peopletrapped by floods in Kamrat and Kalam were also evacuated to safer areas byarmy helicopters.
Continuing further, he said armed forces distributed three-day worth ofrations to flood affectees – weighing around 1,685 tons and had alsodistributed 25,000 Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) along with tents.
At least 284 flood relief collection points were established acrossPakistan, wherein 2,294 tons of rations, more than 311 tons of basicnecessities and more than 1,070,000 medicines were donated by the people ofPakistan.
He mentioned that C130s and helicopters rescued more than 1,521 peopleduring 135 sorties, while revealing that 41 relief camps of the PakistanAir Force were helping people. Commending the Navy’s emergency responseteams, he said Navy teams rescued 10,000 people and distributed more than55,000 food packages.
DG ISPR mentioned that all generals have donated one month’s salary forflood victims, and mentioned that Rs417 million had been collected by thearmy relief fund for victims with Rs 44 million collected in the past 24hours.
