State Dept., USAID urge Pakistan flood aid

The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development are once again encouraging Americans to donate money to a natural disaster beyond U.S. borders, this time seeking for survivors of Pakistan's historic floods. The two agencies led similar efforts after the Haitian earthquake. This time they're urging concerned citizens to text "SWAT" to 50555 to give $10 to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees for flood relief, the State Department said. The U.N. office has delivered about 4,000 tents, 2,700 plastic sheets, 2,200 kitchen sets and 4,000 plastic mats to the hardest-hit areas, according to the U.S. embassy in Islamabad. @StateDept is also keeping Twitter users informed, linking them to a page with phone numbers and Web sites of other nongovernmental organizations providing assistance, including Save the Children, the International Red Cross and OXFAM. USAID has a page with similar information. And in an effort to win hearts and minds on the Internet, the State Department produced the video above of Consul General William Martin discussing flood relief. Have you seen other examples of the federal government's response to the Pakistani floods? Leave links in the comments section below. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/08/state_dept_usaid_urge_pakistan.html