Canada Responds To Pakistan Flood Appeals

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Canada’s Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced Sunday $11 million for eight new projects in support for those affected by recent monsoon rains and ongoing flooding in southern Pakistan.

“Canada is greatly concerned for the people of Pakistan affected by recent severe flooding,” said Minister Oda. “We are responding to emergency appeals by humanitarian organizations and will continue to monitor this evolving situation to ensure Canada is supporting those who need it the most.”

Heavy monsoon rains that began in mid-August have led to extensive flooding in Pakistan, primarily in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The United Nations reports that approximately 5.8 million people have been affected by the rains and ongoing flooding, with close to 1.8 million displaced and living in extremely difficult conditions.

“Pakistan is still rebuilding from the 2010 flooding,” Minister Oda said. “Canada responded with humanitarian assistance and early recovery support then, and Canada will continue to stand by the people of Pakistan.”

Canada, through the Candian International Development Agency (CIDA), is funding eight new projects, which will be managed by United Nations (UN) organizations, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Canadian non-governmental organizations.

CIDA’s support will help the UN World Food Programme, the UN World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration and UNICEF provide emergency food assistance to up to 2.55 million individuals and emergency shelters and essential non-food relief items to 80,000 households. In addition, the UN organizations will provide access to emergency health care in flood-affected communities and targeted nutritional support to prevent and treat cases of moderate and severe malnutrition among children under the age of five as well as pregnant and lactating women.

Funding to the IFRC will help meet the immediate needs of 105,000 people by helping to provide food, safe drinking water, emergency shelters, and basic health care to vulnerable, flood-affected households through the distribution of 15,000 emergency shelters and 15,000 emergency food baskets and the deployment of mobile medical health teams.

With CIDA funding, Save the Children Canada, Oxfam Canada and World Vision Canada will provide flood-affected people in Sindh province with increased access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, as well as emergency shelter and essential household goods.

Today’s Government of Canada announcement of $11 million for those eight new projects will help to provide urgent life-saving assistance to people affected by the flooding in Pakistan.

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