Americans text $31,000 in donations to Pakistan

On the day of the "American Idol" finale last month, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asked Americans to send donations via text messaging to Pakistani refugees fleeing heavy fighting between government and Taliban forces in the country's Swat Valley.

"The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that as of June 1, 2009, a total of $135,008 in private donations from U.S. sources for humanitarian aid to Pakistan had been received," the State Department said Tuesday.

"Of that total, $31,390 was received via 5,722 text messages. The remainder included $84,702 received via 439 online donations and $18,916 by mail and from major donors," it said.

On May 19, Mrs. Clinton asked Americans to donate $5 each via text-messaging to the number 20222 for tents, clothing, food and medicine. She also pledged $110 million in humanitarian aid from the U.S. government.