Social media connects Pakistanis to flood relief effort | Print |
By U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
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Pakistani news affiliates interview Elizabeth Rood, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, after a U.S. Air Force C-130H carrying thousands of Halal meals as part of a humanitarian relief mission landed at Peshawar, Pakistan, Aug. 1, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Aug. 7, 2010) — The flooding in Pakistan and U.S. relief efforts will not only be covered by traditional Pakistani media sources, but also through popular social media networking sites, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. Pakistan’s online media community and citizen reporters can also receive up-to-date information on U.S. flood relief efforts through the U.S. Embassy’s website, http://islamabad.usembassy.gov.

Pakistan's Facebook community can follow U.S. flood relief activities on the U.S. Embassy's Facebook page, at http://www.facebook.com/pakistan.usembassy. The State Department YouTube site, http://www.youtube.com/StateDepartment, provides video of speeches and of U.S. efforts to assist flood victims in Pakistan. U.S. relief efforts will also be covered via the Department of State's Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos.

Following the tragic and devastating floods on July 29, an estimated 4.5 million people have been affected by the flooding. The U.S. Embassy employees and Pakistanis are raising money for emergency relief to Pakistan by texting the donation amount to telephone number 1234, which sends donations to the Prime Minister Fund for Flood Relief. The United States response has been consistent with our humanitarian values and our deep commitment to Pakistan.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton encourages the use of new social media to not only connect to friends and family, but also to provide a dialogue for understanding, share innovative ideas and important information, and to create social networks.