2010-08-18 16:06:48

UN scales up aid delivery to flood-hit Pakistan


(Aug.18,2010) Efforts by the United Nations agencies, to scale up aid delivery to those affected by the massive floods in Pakistan, continued on Tuesday, despite enormous logistical challenges posed by the devastated infrastructure, that has left many areas accessible only by air, after roads and bridges were destroyed by the floods. “We are putting the final pieces in place on a distribution system, which can reach the huge number of people in need in the shortest possible time,” said Wolfgang Herbinger, the country director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Pakistan. “It’s a huge challenge, particularly in Sindh province, where the delivery infrastructure is most constrained. We have assessments completed in most of the country, and we have NGO partners to do the distributions, thus, at least for now a steady supply of food is leaving our warehouses,” Herbinger added.
The agency expects food distributions to have reached 1 million people with a one-month food ration by Tuesday. At least 6 million people are estimated to be in need of assistance, with the Red Crescent Society, Government departments, local authorities, businesses and private individuals, all working together with WFP to fill the food gap.
WFP has so far received just over $30 million of the $150 million it needs for its operation in Pakistan in the next three months. Herbinger said “We are making a very urgent and direct appeal to the international community to redouble their support to our efforts to assist the people of Pakistan”.








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.