Unews World
The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support Pakistan’s ongoing response to devastating floods, a UN spokesperson said Monday.
This new allocation adds to the $600,000 provided by OCHA’s Asia and the Pacific Regional Fund and the $250,000 approved by the Pakistan Country-Based Pooled Fund for local NGOs.
“The funds will be used for cash transfers, health, water and sanitation, shelter, and food, among other urgent needs,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters during the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, while emphasizing the need for additional funding to address the crisis.
“Our humanitarian teams are working closely with the government to deliver relief to survivors in flood-affected areas,” he added.
Dujarric also noted, citing UN reports, that many villages remain submerged, with water levels reaching up to 10 meters in some places, delaying humanitarian access and complicating efforts to assess the full impact of the floods.
Priority needs include sanitation and hygiene, health, shelter, food and water, he said.
“Our partners working in health have expressed concerns over a rise in waterborne diseases in many parts,” the spokesperson said.
“We are working to supporting the Government-led response and OCHA has deployed staff to the affected area in Punjab to support the coordination efforts.
“While these new funds will enable lifesaving aid, existing resources are nearly exhausted and urgent additional funding is critically needed”, Dujarric added.
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