United States announces additional $27 million to feed temporarily displaced people in Pakistan

Islamabad, May 20, 2015 (PPI-OT): The United States government is providing an additional $27 million in food assistance to the people of Pakistan this year through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan Mission Director Greg Gottlieb announced the additional funding, which supplements the $34 million that the United States has already provided in food assistance to Pakistan since October 2014, at a press conference and photo exhibition opening on Wednesday.

“This money will help buy food for struggling families, especially those from the FATA region. For many, the food that the United States provides serves as their main source of food supply,” Gottlieb said. “Food support is a foundation upon which people can rebuild their livelihoods and communities.”

During the event, USAID Pakistan Mission Director Gottlieb, WFP Regional Director for Asia David Kaatrud, and Ministry of National Food Security and Research Coordinator Malik Zahoor also inaugurated a photo exhibit which highlights the collaboration by the U.S. government, the Government of Pakistan, and WFP to feed the country’s vulnerable populations, including the 1.6 million temporarily displaced people from FATA.

“The strategic partnership between the United States, WFP, and the Government of Pakistan has improved the lives of millions of people in the most vulnerable areas affected by natural and human-induced disasters across the country,” WFP Regional Director Kaatrud said. “The generous funding from USAID has provided over the years has improved food and nutrition security, livelihoods, resilience and response capability to sudden-onset emergencies which in turn contribute to the peace and stability as well as economic development in Pakistan.”

The food assistance provided by the United States through WFP includes donations of flour, oil, salt, and beans. Since 2010, the United States has provided nearly $700 million in food assistance to the people of Pakistan.

For more information about USAID’s humanitarian assistance, please visit: http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2082911, +92-51-2081136
Cell: +92-300-5012640
Fax: +92-51-2278607
Email: webmasterisb@state.gov