EU announces €350,000 aid for flood victims

Assistance will target the hardest-hit districts of Jhal Magsi and Lasbella

ISLAMABAD:

The European Union would give €350,000 to provide crucial humanitarian assistance to families affected by severe flooding, particularly in Balochistan, Taheeni Thammannagoda, who oversees EU humanitarian programmes in Pakistan, announced on Tuesday.

According to a press release, the aid would focus on addressing the urgent needs of those most affected in some of the hardest-hit districts of Jhal Magsi and Lasbella. It would also support the International Rescue Committee in delivering much-needed assistance.

“The devastating floods have left a trail of destruction in Pakistan, causing many to suffer the loss of their homes, livelihoods and belongings,” Thammannagoda said. “The EU funding will help get vital assistance to the most vulnerable people to support them during this hard time.”

According to the press release, the EU funding, amounting to nearly Rs76 million, is being made available via the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) of the European Commission, through its Small Scale Response mechanism.

The aid included the provision of cash transfers to help flood-stricken families to meet their immediate needs, primary healthcare services, with a focus on water-borne and communicable diseases, which are common after a flood, as well as nutrition support. The programme would also provide psychological support to vulnerable groups such as women, adolescent girls and children.

Since July, above-normal monsoon rains have caused flash floods in over 100 districts of Pakistan, killing more than 600 people, displacing 23,000 and affecting around 1 million people across the country. The floodwaters have also damaged over 70,000 houses, some one million acres of crops and several roads.

ECHO’s Small Scale Response fund is a global mechanism which allows for rapid funding from the continental bloc of up to €500,000 for humanitarian aid in countries affected by natural and man-made disasters.