Following a formal request from the government of Pakistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) would start providing food in the flood-hit areas of Sindh from today (Monday). According to the NDMA estimates, around five million people were affected, 132 people were killed, 70,000 houses demolished and over 1.7 million acres of crop was damaged in the floods. “The UN has started operations and first convoy of the WFP trucks carrying food arrived in Badin on Sunday following the request of the federal government,” a press release issued by the WFP said. The food would be distributed among the affected households across southern part of Sindh province, it said. According to the WFP, around 500,000 of the worst affected people would receive a one-month food ration in the initial food distribution plans staring today (Monday).
“We have been closely monitoring the unfolding situation and are ready to respond,” said WFP Pakistan Acting Country Director Dominique Frankefort. “The situation is clearly critical and deteriorating for many who have seen their entire livelihoods washed away. The WFP is mobilising every possible resource to make sure their needs are met as quickly as possible,” the acting country director said. The WFP also appealed to the donors for urgent support to continue uninterrupted assistance to the affected people. “The WFP is utilising food from its in-country stocks to respond to the needs of the affected people, but urgent additional support is also required from donors to ensure continued WFP support to the hungry across Pakistan,” the press release said. WFP spokesman Amjad Jamal said the UN appealed to the international community on the request of the government of Pakistan. The press release stated that the WFP would work with the NDMA, provincial authorities and other local partners to provide emergency food rations. “The WFP food basket includes wheat flour, pulses, vegetable oil, salt, high energy biscuits and specially designed baby food ‘Wawamum’ to prevent malnutrition,” the press release added.
