Further £10m from UK for Pakistanis displaced by fighting

14 October 2009

The UK will provide a further £10m to help with the early stages of recovery needs for communities affected by fighting in Pakistan, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander announced today.

Over 2 million people were displaced by fighting in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan earlier this year, and £22m of UK aid for urgent humanitarian assistance has already been provided.

Many of these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have now returned to their homes, and priorities for them - and for those who remained in their homes during the fighting - include shelter, water, and essential sanitation, hygiene and health services. There is also a need for support for education and for rebuilding people’s livelihoods, since crops that would traditionally have supported families through the winter have been lost. Working with its partners, DFID will ensure the additional £10m will be used to meet the most pressing needs.

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

“The UK acted quickly to ensure that people displaced by the fighting earlier in the year received vital humanitarian assistance, but that is only half the story. As people return to areas affected by the fighting, many will find their homes damaged or destroyed, will have no means of generating income or feeding themselves and will lack basic supplies and household goods. We must not forget about them now.

“Working with our partners in the international community, we will ensure the additional £10m will be used to meet the most pressing needs of these individuals and provide specific support for vulnerable groups as needed. The funding that we have announced today will help returning IDPs start to rebuild their lives and will arrive in time to help them through the coming winter."