Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Australian government has announced a contribution of three million (Australian) dollars to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to cover costs of milling, fortification, transportation and distribution of 8,126 metric tons of wheat donated by the government of Pakistan for 102,000 temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson made this announcement here at WFP office. At the event, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch, UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne, WFP Regional Director for Asia and Pacific Lola Castro and WFP Pakistan representative David Kaatrud were also present on the occasion.

Margaret said that this wheatflour would be provided to the displaced persons and returnees in FATA. Australia has a long standing history of working together with Pakistan to provide humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the crisis. It supports to help the most vulnerable, and to promote stability. Australia places particular emphasis on the protection and empowerment of women and girls.

“WFP welcomes this donation and looks forward to continue the excellent and long lasting partnership with the Australian government,” Lola Castro said. “The relief rations are especially crucial for the population affected by shocks whose ability to purchase or produce food is limited while assisting returnees in the resettlement process so that they can build durable food security,” she added.

The Australian government has been contributing towards WFP interventions supporting the government’s sustainable return and rehabilitation strategy as a part of its efforts to ensure the stability of the region near the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Baloch thanked the Australian government for the contribution and also praised the role of WFP for helping Pakistan especially in food distribution for affected people from the terrorism in FATA and returnees to their respective areas. Within some years, more than two million people were displaced, half of them returned safely to their respective areas and other one million also would return to their areas till November this year. He said that WFP would provide food to the affected even after six months of the dateline of their return.

David Kaatrud of WFP said that Pakistan has been facing a lot of displacement since 2009 due to disasters and terrorism. He said that WFP not only would support Pakistan in providing food but also in the return of the displaced people to their respective areas.