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)