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WFP Urges Continued Support For Humanitarian Needs As International Representatives Visit Jalozai And Swat Valley


ISLAMABAD – WEBWIRE

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has led a mission of international humanitarian and development partners to Jalozai camp and Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to witness food distributions and nutrition support. Among the participants were representatives from the governments of Australia, France and Norway.

“Support from the international community is essential as needs continue to grow in a region affected by recurrent natural and man-made shocks,” said Lola Castro, WFP Pakistan Representative and Country Director. “Access to food is a basic human right, and WFP supports more than 1.6 million people in northern Pakistan with lifesaving food assistance. At the same time, it is important to engage in resilience activities including cash assistance, development of community infrastructure, support to nutrition and girls’ education.”

Australia and Norway have been important partners for WFP, in Pakistan and globally.

“We came here today and saw first-hand the ongoing humanitarian needs of highly vulnerable people,” said Peter Coventry, Head of Aid at the Australian High Commission. “The Australian government has been supporting the people here by funding WFP in their efforts to improve access to food, education and nutrition. I must say that WFP is doing a great job. It was heartening to meet the people and hear them talk about the difference our support made to their lives,” he said.

Jalozai camp temporarily houses families displaced as a result of law enforcement operations in FATA.  In collaboration with partners, WFP has worked extensively to ensure maximum facilitation of the displaced population, especially women, in the access to humanitarian assistance. Chail Valley in Swat was badly affected by the 2010 floods, WFP has been providing livelihood support to improve the residents’ food security and reduce the impact of future disasters on the community. WFP uses cash transfers to community members for their participation in rehabilitation activities. Accomplishments of this programme include the construction of check dams, stabilization of mountain slopes, sowing of seeds and community plantations. Separate activities were designed for women.

Nutrition is a priority area for WFP in Pakistan and efforts are underway to stem the decline in nutrition by treating and preventing acute malnutrition in children under the age of 5, as well as pregnant and nursing women. The programme capitalizes on local capacities and technical expertise and provides locally-developed and produced supplementary foods.

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WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. In 2013, WFP assisted more than 80 million people in 75 countries.



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