Sindh: Helicopter Crash Shows Challenges of Aid Delivery
The crash of a UN helicopter in Pakistan’s Sindh province demonstrates challenging conditions but focus must fall to alleviating the suffering of those returning to destroyed homes and the threat of disease.
Below is an article published by Mail Online
A UN helicopter crash-landed in southern Pakistan while delivering food for flood victims, officials said today [03 October 2010].
Three people of the 13 on board suffered minor injuries.
The forced landing happened when the aircraft, which was loaded with high-energy biscuits from the UN's World Food Programme, became unbalanced as it tried to land in the Dadu area of Sindh province.
WFP spokesman Amjad Jamal said those on board included Pakistanis and foreigners. The wounded were taken to Karachi via a rescue helicopter.
The UN has ramped up its aid programme in Pakistan following this summer's floods, which have left at least 1.8 million homeless. Many affected areas are hard to reach.
The crash comes in the same week at Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden released a video seeking to drum up support by taking advantage of Pakistan's flood tragedy.
