Flood-Affected Pakistani Region Receiving Food Aid

Flood-affected Pakistani region receiving UN food aid

11 August 2008 - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food aid to villagers in the Pakistani district of Peshawar who are coping with the impact of last week's deadly floods, which reportedly killed over 35 people and injured many more.

A UN assessment has found that nearly 100 villages - with about 500,000 people - were affected after torrential rains flooded the local Thara Khur stream which flows from Landi Kotal to Charsada in Peshawar district.

The floods completely destroyed the maize crop, washed away most of the mud houses and roads in the affected villages and led to the loss of some 15,000 livestock. Drinking water resources have also been destroyed and health problems are on the rise.

"WFP will provide 741 tons of wheat flour, 55 tons of cooking oil and 22 tons of biscuits to support nearly 89,000 people in Peshawar district, where food assistance is badly needed," the head of WFP's provincial office in Peshawar said.

WFP has already distributed food to 1,200 beneficiaries in the areas of Kankola and Larama, and further distributions are planned for more than 3,500 people in Matra, in close coordination with local authorities.

The agency has also started an immediate response emergency operation to provide food rations for one month through a one-time distribution. It stresses that additional aid, including food, is needed to meet the minimum food consumption requirements of all the worst-affected people.

Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have provided medicines, while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has contributed tents.

ENDS

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