UK announces £3.5m humanitarian aid for Balochistan

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr Christian Turner announced £3.5 million UK humanitarian aid for Balochistan during his first visit to Quetta on Thursday, said a statement issued here.

The aid will help over 41,000 women and children get vital nutrients, through a therapeutic food programme, according to the statement. It will support community outreach workers to identify and help malnourished children, pregnant women and new mothers.

Rates of malnutrition and food insecurity in Balochistan were already high before the Covid-19 global pandemic, but the virus has affected livelihoods and made the problem worse. “The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the global economy hard, and this has had a knock-on effect on food security in Balochistan,” Dr Turner said.

“UK aid announced today will provide life-saving nutrition and humanitarian aid to vulnerable women and children when they need it most – giving the next generation the best start in life,” the high commissioner added.

The UK investment will be split between the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Part of the package will also help with humanitarian cash transfers to help with food and essential living costs. In total, UK aid will help over 164,000 people in Balochistan.

During his visit, the British high commissioner met the Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, and discussed a variety of matters, including the Balochistan economy. He also met Chris Kaye, country director for WFP. He also offered his condolences on a recent terrorist attack, in which 11 miners were killed.