The UN World Food Programme (WFP) Tuesday welcomed an 6,7 million euro (50 mio. DKR) contribution from the European Commission (EC) to its air and logistics operations assisting earthquake victims in Pakistan.
The EC contribution comes at a crucial time for the survivors of the earthquake, who are now facing harsh winter conditions.
– By supporting WFPs air and logistics operation, the EC will help to maintain the ongoing delivery of such critical items as food, tents, winter clothing, blankets and tools, to people desperately in need, said WFP Executive Director James Morris.
– The EC contribution is helping to ensure that all windows of opportunity will be used to distribute aid in the weeks to come, he added.
To date, WFP has delivered 8.600 metric tons of food, 2.125 metric tons of non-food items, such as tents and tools, 76 mobile warehouses and about 17.000 passengers.
Since the earthquake hit on 8 October, killing over 73.000 people and leaving 2,5 million people homeless, air operations have played a vital role in reaching those people in remote locations. Moreover, the worse conditions become on the ground, the more heavily relief transport is relying on helicopters.
WFP is currently reaching over one million of the most vulnerable victims with food assistance. Among them, 400.000 are living in tents above an altitude of 1.500 meters and are in scattered and remote areas difficult to reach by roads blocked by landslides.
To meet the logistical challenge, WFP is conducting the biggest helicopter operation in its history. In total, a fleet comprised of 14 MI -8, two MI-26 and two KA30 helicopters has been deployed. The operation received additional help from US Chinook and NATO CH53 helicopters.
Since early January, bad weather, rain and heavy snowfall, with temperatures dropping between minus six and minus 16 Celsius, have disrupted operations of all relief transport. Landslides have made roads impassable and helicopters were grounded for days.
High Energy Biscuits were distributed to those who could not cook because their tents were wet from the rain and snow.
– This new donation from the EC is an invaluable lifeline to help reach the affected
population throughout the winter months, stressed John Aylieff, Director of WFPs European Commission Relations division.
– The collaboration between the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department and WFP in Pakistan is yet another good example of our strong global partnership for a fast and effective humanitarian response, added Aylieff.
This new contribution, in conjunction with other donors, will help the organization to keep the current fleet of helicopters running until mid-March.
WFP on WFP:
WFP is the worlds largest humanitarian agency: each year, we give food to an average of 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs, including 61 million hungry children, in at least 80 of the worlds poorest countries. WFP – We Feed People.
WFP Global School Feeding Campaign: For just 19 US cents a day, you can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at school – a gift of hope for a brighter future.
Visit our website: www.wfp.org
For more information contact (email address: [email protected]):
Mikael Bjerrum, WFP/Copenhagen, tel. 35 46 71 30, mob. 40 11 38 83
Kilde: www.wfp.dk
