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9/12/11 (AEIN) The Chinese ambassador has announced that China's government will provide a significant amount of humanitarian aid to neighboring Pakistan in the wake of major flooding. The aid funds will be equivalent to approximately five million dollars, Chinese state radio reported early Monday.
Pakistan has been hit by severe floods for the second time in two years, with Sindh and Balochistan provinces worst-hit. The United Nations reported on Saturday that heavy rains in the southern part of the South Asian country had damaged or ruined almost 1,000,000 homes, flooded approximately 4,200,000 acres (1.7 million hectares) and killed nearly two-hundred people.
China and Pakistan have expanded economic, military and political ties in recent years, especially as Pakistan-U.S. relations worsen. The U.N. humanitarian aid agencies are also taking steps to begin supplying a wide range of assistance to southern Pakistan so as to supplement the Pakistani government response.