Wednesday, August 12 2009
Islamabad, Pakistan - The Government of Canada will provide an additional $25 million to support current humanitarian efforts in the North West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister for International Cooperation and Vice-Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan, announced today after visiting the Jalozai Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Pakistan.
"I have witnessed the impact of the conflict on the displaced families and their struggle to meet their basic needs and am pleased that Canada is increasing its humanitarian assistance," said Minister Oda. “Canada’s support will help alleviate the harsh conditions by providing the immediate goods and services needed by affected populations.”
Canada’s additional humanitarian support will help provide humanitarian food assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation facilities, as well as basic health care for affected populations. The additional $25 million will bring Canada’s total humanitarian assistance to Pakistan since October 2008 to $33 million.
Pakistan has experienced one of the largest and fastest displacements of people that the world has seen over the past 15 years. The United Nations estimates that more than 2 million people have been displaced into camps and host communities by the conflict between government forces and armed groups in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province. At least 80 percent of the displaced population is housed outside camps with host families, placing an enormous strain on local resources.
For more information on CIDA programming in Pakistan, please visit http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/pakistan-e.
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Wednesday, August 12 2009
Pakistan has experienced one of the largest and fastest displacements of people that the world has seen in the past 15 years. In late April 2009, fighting between government forces and armed groups intensified in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), leading to further mass forced displacement of the civilian population. In early May 2009, following the Taliban’s breaking of a peace deal, the Pakistani army launched a new series of attacks on Taliban positions in Swat District, NWFP. As of July 2009, the United Nations estimates that more than 2 million people have been displaced by the conflict.
Today’s funding announcement of an additional $25 million brings Canada’s total humanitarian assistance to Pakistan to $33 million since October 2008. The new assistance will respond to the humanitarian needs of those who have been displaced by the conflict.
This new assistance will help meet critical needs such as food assistance, clean water and sanitation services, shelter, and basic health care. Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Government of Canada will initially disburse these funds to the following humanitarian organizations:
Pakistan, one of CIDA’s 20 countries of focus, has a population of approximately 170 million, 29 percent of whom live in absolute poverty. Canadian assistance to Pakistan is focused on strengthening democracy, improving women’s rights, supporting economic growth and the education system. In addition, Canada supports economic and social development in key border districts adjacent to southern Afghanistan, as well as recovery activities in parts of northern Pakistan that were devastated by a major earthquake in October 2005.
For more information on Canada’s humanitarian assistance and development efforts in Pakistan, please visit our website at http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/pakistan-e.
