Press Releases 2009
U.S. Embassy Islamabad Providing Referral And Support Services To American Citizen Inquiries On IDP Relatives
May 13, 2009
Islamabad - Consular officials at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad are providing assistance and support to American citizens - and especially Pakistani-Americans - concerned about the welfare and whereabouts of relatives who may be among those displaced. U.S. Embassy Consular officials are coordinating with Pakistani government agencies as well as international and non-governmental organizations to obtain, update, and disseminate up-to-date information about the situation to all concerned American citizens who contact them.
Contact information for American citizens concerned about relatives who may be Internally Displaced Persons:
Day Phone: +92-51-208-2186 and +92-51-208-2116. If calling from the U.S., dial 011 first. (This phone number is not for visa information.)
E-mail: acs_islamabad@state.gov
U.S. Hotline: If you are in the U.S., the Overseas Citizen Services hotline number is 1-888-407-4747.
The United States will continue to monitor the situation and is committed to providing additional assistance as needed. On Monday (May 11), the people of the United State provided more than $4.9 million in immediate emergency assistance to families displaced by the recent conflicts in Pakistan's Buner, Dir, and Swat Districts of the North West Frontier Province. The funds are being used to purchase tents, blankets, cooking sets, jerry cans, soap, and bedding to the most vulnerable families including women and children who have temporarily relocated in the region. Yesterday (May 12), the United States sent logistical equipment including generators and transformers to power water pumps and lights. Other logistical and support equipment includes laptop computers, rental cars, and internet connectivity to assist emergency support operations.
U.S. relief to Pakistani Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) totals more than $66.8 million since August, 2008. Since 2002, the United States has provided more than $2 billion to Pakistan to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance and to assist with earthquake reconstruction.