Australia has announced to provide a further $3 million in immediate humanitarian assistance in response to the devastating flooding in Pakistan that has impacted over 33 million people. This will bring Australia’s total humanitarian response to the floods to $5 million.
“The Australian Government’s deepest sympathies are with the families and communities that have been, and continue to be, greatly affected”, foreign moinister Penny Wong and Pat Conroy, Minister for International Development and the Pacific said in a joint statement on September 18.
The water, now covering over one-third of the country, is expected to take months to subside. This is having enormous and ongoing impacts on crops, food security and livelihoods.
Pakistan estimates that as many as 1.7 million houses have been lost, as well as one-third of their cotton crop.
Australia’s support will be delivered through the World Food Program to address emergency food and livelihoods needs, including for women and children who remain disproportionately affected.
Pakistan High Commission in Canberra has welcomed the additional humanitarian assistance from Australia.
“The Government and the people of Pakistan greatly appreciate Australia’s solidarity in the wake of devastating floods caused by climate change”, said a statement issued by High Commission.
