Govt pledges cash to help displaced in Pakistan

The Government today pledged more than half a million euro in emergency funding to support people forced to flee their homes during the conflict in north-western Pakistan.

A special shipment of Irish Aid relief supplies, including kitchen sets and mosquito nets, has also been dispatched to the help those forced to leave the North-West Frontier Province, where the Pakistani Government has launched a military offensive against local Taliban and other militants.

The funding is being channelled through the United Nations and Ireland’s NGO partners, including Trocaire and Concern, who are working to provide emergency support to those displaced.

It will be used to provide much-needed food, plastic sheeting, water and sanitation.

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, said many who fled conflict areas left with literally nothing and are urgently in need of support.

“This is a devastating crisis which in a short space of time has seen approximately two million people uprooted from their homes, many of them women and children who are particularly vulnerable in the current situation,” said Mr Power.

“Such large-scale displacement clearly presents major challenges to the government of Pakistan and to the humanitarian community.”

The emergency funding of €549,599 is being provided to the following Irish Aid partners:

:: €200,000 to the UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) for programmes to ensure safe access to drinking water and sanitation services.

:: €159,599 to Trocaire for distribution of essential non-food items such as soap and plastic sheeting, as well as two month food rations.

:: €100,000 to Concern for distribution of essential non-food items.

:: €90,000 to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for co-ordination of the international relief effort.