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Islamabad, August 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): The United States contributed an additional $6 million to help the government of Pakistan meet the food and nutritional needs of the internally displaced people (IDPs) from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on August 20. The contribution, provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Food for Peace (FFP), is part of the ongoing partnership between the Government of Pakistan, U.S. government and the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) under the Twinning Program.
“Twinning” is an innovative program that complements the Government of Pakistan’s contribution of locally grown wheat by paying for milling, fortification, transport and distribution costs. The fortification process provides additional vitamins and minerals to address the dietary needs of vulnerable populations. This food is being used by WFP to support 1.4 million internally displaced people, including those from the North Waziristan Agency.
With this contribution, USAID is now the largest international donor to the program, providing a total of $39 million in support – enough to transform over 60 percent of the 214,000 metric tons of wheat donated by the Government of Pakistan since 2013.
The United States has a long-standing history of, and commitment to, working together with Pakistan to provide humanitarian assistance and support human and social development. In 2014, USAID provided over $60 million in food assistance to Pakistan, in addition to the Twinning Program. Since 2009, the United States has provided over $1.4 billion in humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, making it the largest bilateral provider of humanitarian 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
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov