ISLAMABAD: The UK on Friday announced an additional £10 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan to support life-saving humanitarian aid and flood relief efforts in the country, the British High Commission said.
Floods caused by heavy monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and affecting 33 million out of a population of 220 million. Officials say it could take up to six months for floodwaters to recede.
Meanwhile, waterborne and vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and skin, eye, and gastrointestinal infections have spread rapidly.
Last week, the UN quintupled its humanitarian appeal for Pakistan to $816 million, while the UN has so far only received $90 million of the $180 million pledged.
The revised appeal comes amid a rise in waterborne diseases following the country's worst flooding in decades.
"As part of his visit to the country, Wimbledon FCDO Minister Lord (Tareq) Ahmed today [Friday] announced an additional £10 million in humanitarian aid, bringing the full UK Government assistance to £26.5million," the British High Commission said. said in a statement. statement.
The High Commission added that the extra aid would be spent on immediate life-saving needs, such as providing shelter, water and sanitation to prevent water-borne diseases.
"It will focus on helping those who are still displaced and returning to their land, helping to restore communal water supplies," the statement said.
Lord Ahmed rencontrera le Premier ministre Shahbaz Sharif, le ministre des Affaires étrangères Bilawal Bhutto Zardari et d'autres responsables gouvernementaux lors de sa visite au Pakistan. Lors de ses rencontres avec eux, le ministre devrait discuter de l'impact des inondations, visiter les zones les plus touchées et les principales agences financées par le Royaume-Uni dans la province du Sindh, au sud du Pakistan.
Julian Harness, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, said: "Health remains our greatest concern as the World Health Organization estimates that 2.7 million children will be affected by malaria by January 2023. , a significant increase from previous years. There is an increase." At a press conference in Islamabad this week
The UN representative said that about 50,000 children die each year from malaria in Pakistan, but the figure could be higher due to a significant increase in cases this year.