WIREDGOV

Swift UK response to un appeal for Pakistan

DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT News Release (Pakistan) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 22 May 2009

The UK has given an additional £10 million to help over 2,000,000 people displaced by the fighting in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. This is in immediate response to an urgent UN Appeal for humanitarian assistance for those fleeing the unrest in Pakistan, announced Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander today.

The new commitment brings the UK's contribution to addressing the humanitarian situation in Pakistan to £22m. The £10 million will be distributed through the UN to aid agencies working in NWFP. They will provide food, water emergency shelter and other critical humanitarian help to those most in need.

Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander said:

"The UK is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of over two million people displaced by this conflict. A mass movement of people of this scale poses huge humanitarian challenges. The aid agencies on the ground are doing heroic work under extremely difficult conditions and we are determined to support their efforts. This extra money will help the UN manage a coordinated and effective international response to this crisis to allow those affected by the fighting take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives.

"The UK stands ready to assist the Government of Pakistan to combat the shared threat of violent extremism and we remain strongly committed to our partnership with the people of Pakistan."

DFID is providing £665 million of assistance to Pakistan from 2009 to 2013. By 2011, it will be the UK's second largest development programme worldwide. We are committing £250 million over five years to help put more children into school, improve teaching and provide the skills young people need to get jobs.

Notes to editors

1. The revised UN Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan will be launched on Friday 22nd May. Douglas Alexander will announce the UK's response at Annandale Mosque in Edinburgh.

2. The UK is committed to continuing to help Pakistan fight poverty and is providing £665 million of assistance to Pakistan from 2009 to 2013. The £10 million in humanitarian assistance is in addition to the £12 million provided since November 2008.

3. Douglas Alexander met with President Zardari of Pakistan on Thursday 14th May and discussed the current humanitarian situation.

For further information on DFID's work in Pakistan,log onto http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Where-we-work/Asia-South/Pakistan
call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
DFID News is available on our website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk

DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the British government's fight against world poverty. One in five people in the world today, over 1 billion people, live in poverty on less than one dollar a day.
Information Department 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE. Website: http://www.dfid.gov.uk
Public enquiries 0845 300 4100 (overseas +44 1355 84 3132)