PESHAWAR, Sept 27: The United States will continue to extend support to the people of areas devastated by floods in Pakistan so they could start their lives afresh, said Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of the US Ambassador Cameron Munter, at a ceremony to inaugurate desiltation of water courses in Banda Sheikh Ismail in Nowshera district on Tuesday.

“Since the last year's flood, we have been providing healthcare, shelter and rehabilitation services to the population affected and displaced in Pakistan,” said Dr Wyatt, adding that that her government was enthusiastically supporting the Pakistani people so they could start their lives afresh.

She said that farming played a significant part in the lives of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that was why they were according top priority to providing high quality seeds and fertilisers and construction of tube wells and water courses.

She said that a total of 400 irrigation canals stretching 12,000 kilometres would be restored in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“I have grown up in a farmer's family and understand the needs of the farmers,” Dr Wyatt said, adding that restoration of the USAID-funded 22 water courses would irrigate 389 acres benefiting over 5,000 persons. She praised the contribution of the local communities towards the success of the programme.

The ambassador's wife said that the completion of the water courses by December this year and provision of high quality seeds by the USAID would increase the yield and bring some relief to the farmers.

Dr Wyatt said that they were extremely concerned about the destruction suffered by the farming community and were trying their level best to help them.

On this occasion, the local farmers sought the US government's help to build embankment of the Kabul River to protect them against flood water in future.

A local community leader Arbab Noor Hussain lauded the US government for its timely support to the farmers.

“About 90 per cent population of the locality dependent on farming is in need of support to provide endless flow of water for irrigation purposes,” he said. He added that the area was famous for growing high-quality sugar cane but due to the dwindling water courses the local farmers hesitated from sowing it.

Mr Hussain said that the local community had taken responsibility for the maintenance of the water courses and were contributing to the project by providing labour as well as supervision of the ongoing work.

Dr Wyatt said that they would suggest the construction of embankment of the Kabul River and repair of the damaged tube-wells to help the farmers in a much better way.