NZ Government Provides $1 Million For Pakistan

NZ Government Provides $1 Million For UNICEF’s Pakistan Relief Effort

Wellington, 10 August 2010. – UNICEF is welcoming the New Zealand Government’s support for its humanitarian relief work in flood-devastated Pakistan.

The Government has announced a contribution of $1 million in emergency aid for UNICEF’s life-saving work. Between 6-14 million people – many of them children – are believed to be affected by the floods, described as the worst in Pakistan’s history.

The Government has also given a further $1 million that is being shared by other relief agencies.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Murray McCully, said in a statement: “It is important that New Zealand supports international efforts to provide emergency shelter, drinking water, food, and medical supplies.”

UNICEF NZ Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay, says that the Government support is welcomed.

“The cost of emergency needs over the next three months is in the tens of millions of dollars, so the NZ Government’s support is both timely and significant.”

UNICEF’s relief operation in Pakistan is concentrating on the critical areas of water and sanitation, health, nutrition, education and child protection. The largest activity is the provision of water and sanitation systems to head off the outbreak of diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera, especially deadly to children.

UNICEF is providing drinking water to over half a million people and has restored more than 80 tube-wells, benefitting almost 600,000 people. Thousands of family hygiene kits, soap bars and water purification tablets have been distributed. UNICEF has supported 24 medical camps that are helping up to one million people, and is active in reuniting separated children with their families.

ENDS

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