UK to double emergency flood aid to Pakistan

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: British Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell on Friday announced that the UK intends to double its aid contribution for the floods in Pakistan to 64 million pounds (more than Rs 8.5 billion).

According to the British High Commission, the UK will make available an additional 33 million pounds (about Rs 4.5 billion) in aid. This is in addition to the 31 million pounds (just over Rs 4 billion) already allocated to the flood disaster by the UK government.

Speaking in New York, Andrew Mitchell said, “The UK is already helping more than three million people in flood-affected areas in Pakistan. This doubling of our aid should now provide water and sanitation to 500,000 people; shelter to 170,000 people; help meet the nutritional needs of 380,000 people and provide enough health services to cover a population of 2.4 million people.”

The secretary of state made clear that more UK support would only be given to non-governmental agencies and UN agencies when they were confident it would help the people of Pakistan access desperately needed medicine, food, clean water and shelter.

The British High Commission said Andrew Mitchell would hold a series of high-level meetings with leaders from across the globe and impress on them the need to commit more practical and financial help to the estimated 20 million people affected by the floods.