WFP renews call to support flood-hit Pakistan

The World Food Program has reiterated its need for additional funds to help 5 million Pakistanis suffering the effects of severe monsoon flooding, high food prices, malnutrition and poverty.

While fewer districts were affected by this year’s flooding, the damage was worse than in 2011. More than 1.2 million people are estimated to be in need of food assistance in five districts of Sindh and Balochistan provinces alone.

WFP has distributed a month’s ration of food supply to some 140,000 people in Sindh and Balochistan. The rations consist of dietary staples of fortified wheat flour, pulses, vegetable oil, iodized salt and high-energy biscuits. More rations are being prepared to help 1.9 million of the most affected population.

“In some areas people stranded in flood waters are still being rescued by boats to safer places,” U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesman Jens Laerke said in a press release. Large parts of the country are still deep in floodwaters a month after the rains.

According to the latest data from U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ financial tracking system, WFP needs $27 million for its emergency response to Pakistan — including logistics and communication support — of which 74 percent has already been met.

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