- Minister will announce funding
package at international conference in Geneva
- British support will provide water,
sanitation, cash, and shelter, on top of funding already pledged
to boost climate resilience and adaptation
- More than 17,000 households in
Pakistan have already been helped with clean water and healthcare
- The UK’s Disasters Emergency
Committee (DEC) launched a Pakistan Appeal last September, which
has had an amazing response from the British people with over £40
million raised, including £5m of UK Aid Match funding. This money
will fund leading UK aid charities which are providing emergency
relief on the ground
The UK and its international partners will today (Monday 9
January) join forces to support Pakistan rebuild and recover from
the unprecedented floods last summer that affected tens of
thousands of people.
Pakistan and the UN are jointly hosting a conference in Geneva to
help raise support for the country’s recovery and reconstruction.
Last year, Pakistan was on the front line of the impact of
climate change when catastrophic flooding swept away homes and
livelihoods, leaving 20 million in need of humanitarian
assistance.
It is estimated the country will need around $16 billion for the
next three to five years to rebuild the devastation.
The UK, one of the first countries to respond to the disaster, is
today allocating over £9 million from its Pakistan budget to help
tackle the impact of the flooding, bringing the total it has now
committed to the humanitarian response to £36 million.
This new allocation will help provide those most in need with
essential services, and will also support the Government to plan
for a climate resilient future. Support from the UK is providing
water, sanitation, and hygiene to help prevent waterborne
diseases, as well as nutrition to tackle malnutrition, cash
support, shelter and protection services for women and girls.
This funding is in addition to support the UK has already pledged
for climate resilience and adaptation in Pakistan.
will speak at the
conference, co-hosted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
and UN Secretary General António Guterres.
is expected to
say:
“I visited Pakistan following the
2010 floods and saw the devastating impact on some of the world’s
most vulnerable people. We stood by Pakistan then, as we do
now.”
He will also say
“Looking to the future, it is crucial to build defences
against weather-related disasters, as our changing climate puts
us more and more at risk. This is why the UK will help
Pakistan to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate
change.”
Notes to editors:
- Today’s announcement takes the
total UK contribution to the flood response to £36 million. This
follows over £9 million of UK aid being allocated to help with
technical support in disaster and climate planning, and to
provide education and healthcare to those affected. This
includes supporting 20,000 students to return to school and
providing primary healthcare services to 170,000 people. This
latest funding is on top of £55 million already pledged for
climate resilience and adaptation in Pakistan.
- The cost estimates for recovery
come from Pakistan’s Post Disaster Needs Assessment.
