UN body lauds Philippines aid for Pakistan

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of $100,000 from the Philippines to support flood response in Pakistan.

Ambassador-designate of the Philippines to Pakistan Maria Agnes Cervantes recently handed over the donation to WFP country director Rathi Palakrishnan for its ongoing flood response to reach the most vulnerable flood-affected communities with relief, recovery and rehabilitation support.

“The Philippine government is always ready to provide whatever help it could give to the people of Pakistan, with the Philippines and Pakistan considered as most vulnerable to climate change. This is an extension of our appreciation to Pakistan for its assistance after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) brought devastation to a large part of the Philippines,” Cervantes said during a ceremony held at the WFP office in Islamabad.

The contribution comes at a critical time and will support thousands of people in need following the devastating floods in Pakistan last year.

To date, the WFP has supported over 3.7 million flood-affected people with 77,745 metric tons of food and nutrition assistance and $23.3 million in cash-based transfers in its ongoing flood response.

Malnutrition was already a major public health concern across the country before the floods, but now its acute form is an increasing preoccupation in the worst-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan, especially among children under five years old.

“The WFP is very thankful to the Government of the Philippines for the generous contribution and its solidarity with the Pakistani people, especially at a time when people are struggling with soaring food prices and record high inflation. These funds will enable the WFP to provide much-needed relief to flood-affected people who do not know where their next meal will come from,” Palakrishnan said.

To date, the WFP has supported over 3.7 million flood-affected people with 77,745 metric tons of food and nutrition assistance and $23.3 million in cash-based transfers in its ongoing flood response.