United Nations Humanitarian Fund gives US$17.6 million (Pkr 1.54 billion) to help people in flooded areas of Pakistan

(Islamabad/ New York, 7 October 2011): The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated US$17.6 million (PKR 1.54 billion) to provide water, food, shelter and healthcare to thousands of families devastated by floods in Pakistan.

“We are grateful for the immediate funding provided by the CERF, especially with UN relief stocks running low. This gives UN agencies flexible resources to continue to help save lives,” said Timo Pakkala, Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan.

The assistance will target the most vulnerable families living in temporary settlements in the eight hardest-hit districts of Sindh, in southern Pakistan. Many of them had not recovered from Pakistan’s record-breaking floods of 2010. IOM, UN Habitat, UNHCR, WFP, FAO, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA will deliver the assistance in support of Government-led relief and recovery efforts.

US$4.9 million (PKR 428 million) will help provide 96,000 people with emergency shelter materials, blankets and kitchen sets. Another US$2.9 million (PKR 253 million) will help feed about 270,000 people, and US$800,000 (PKR 69 million) will help families keep their livestock alive, to ensure continued milk production and a return to agricultural activities as soon as possible.

US$3.8 million (PKR 322 million) will provide emergency primary health care for 1.3 million people, who face malaria, dengue and cholera, while US$3.1 million (PKR 270 million) will respond to critical water, sanitation and hygiene needs.

“This CERF allocation marks the largest single donation to the Pakistan Floods 2011 Rapid Response Plan so far,” said John Ging, OCHA’s Operations Director. “The appeal has received only 15 per cent of $357 million (PKR31billion) needed to urgently reduce suffering and save lives. Families are in a fight for survival. Much more is needed now.”

The CERF was established by the United Nations General Assembly five years ago this month, to make funding for humanitarian emergencies faster and more equitable. Since then, more than 120 Member States and dozens of private sector donors have pledged some US$2.3 billion to the Fund, which is managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In the first five years of operation, CERF has allocated more than US$2 billion for humanitarian agencies operating in some 80 countries.