Kenya sends aid to flood-hit Pakistan

Kenya has joined other nations in sending aid to Pakistan, which has been ravaged by floods that have left over 1,000 dead and displaced millions.

President Kibaki donated 100 tonnes of aid consisting of rice, tea, powder milk and canned beef for onward delivery to Islamabad Friday.

Pakistan High Commissioner Masroor Ahmad Junejo received the donation, on behalf of the flood victims, during a presentation ceremony at Harambee House, Nairobi.

"The government and the people of Kenya are making this donation in solidarity with the people of your country, who have suffered greatly due to the heavy floods in parts of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," said President Kibaki.

"The Kenyan people, particularly crop and livestock farmers, in an act of solidarity and friendship with their brothers and sisters in Pakistan, have come up with a token donation of 100 tonnes of their produce for onward delivery to the victims of the floods."

He said the gesture was a sign of gratitude to Pakistanis, who consume significant amounts of Kenyan tea.

The President also condoled those who lost their lives in the flooding and assured Kenya stood with Pakistan "during this difficult period as you begin the hard task of restructuring your country".

The floods are the worst in 80 years after monsoon rains swept up to 1,600 people to their deaths in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past month. An estimated 14 million people were also left homeless.

Countries such as Afghanistan, Turkey, the United States and Saudi Arabia have pledged millions in cash and relief. The European Union has also pledged aid.

The unprecedented rains triggered floods and landslides, sweeping away thousands of homes and devastating farmland in one of Pakistan's most impoverished regions, already hard hit by years of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked violence.

Last week, the World Bank raised flood aid to Pakistan to $1 billion while the IMF approved $450 million in emergency financing to help the nation cope with its worst-ever humanitarian disaster.

Present at the function were Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Ministers Moses Wetang'ula (Foreign), Esther Murugi (Special Programmes) ,James Orengo (Lands) and Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu.