UK Funds Life-saving food assistant to displaced people in Pakistan's north-west

UK FUNDS LIFE-SAVING FOOD ASSISTANCE TO DISPLACED PEOPLE IN PAKISTAN’S NORTH-WEST

ISLAMABAD – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of 3 million pounds Sterling (US$4.5 million) from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for vulnerable displaced communities in the highly volatile north-west of Pakistan.

The donation comes at a crucial time to enable WFP to continue its assistance over the coming weeks to people affected by law and order operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the Federally Assisted Tribal Agencies (FATA), where WFP currently provides monthly food rations to more than one million people.

“This very timely donation will help to provide the handling costs for the generous wheat contribution from the Government of Pakistan, as well as purchase monthly food rations for about 25,000 families from Tirah Valley and Kurram Agency, affected by the latest spill-over of hostilities. Supporting communities who are at risk of increasing vulnerability is now a priority in the north-west,” said Lola Castro, WFP Representative in Pakistan.

This latest contribution from the UK will allow WFP to procure 2,145 metric tons of fortified mixed food commodities as well as mill, fortify, transport and distribute over 6,500 metric tons of wheat donated by the Government of Pakistan.

Moazzam Malik, Director of DFID’s Western Asia Department said “I am very pleased that DFID is able to support WFP’s efforts to provide essential wheat and food rations for displaced persons. This support is critical as the number of families displaced in the north-west continues to rise and they will be increasingly vulnerable heading into the winter.”

WFP currently requires US$31 million to fully implement its operations in Pakistan until the end of this year, of which US$6 million is still needed to cover costs required for handling of the Government-donated wheat.