ADB announces ‘significant’ flood relief package

Aid is designed to ‘support people, livelihoods, and infrastructure immediately, and in the long-term’

ISLAMABAD:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Tuesday a “significant” relief and rehabilitation package for flood-hit Pakistan, designed to “support people, livelihoods, and infrastructure immediately, and in the long-term”.

In a statement, the ADB said that it would use ongoing projects to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads and irrigation infrastructure, and to support the development and financial stability of the agriculture sector to boost food security in the short and medium-term.

“We’re also processing countercyclical support to help the poor and vulnerable, especially women and children, whether the impacts of food prices and other external shocks,” the statement said. “In the long-term, we’ll prioritise projects that support post-flood reconstruction and strengthen climate and disaster resilience,” it added.

“We will provide more details of our new assistance package when it is finalised. We will work closely with the government and other international agencies to help rebuild lives and livelihoods of the more than 33 million people affected by the disaster,” the ADB concluded.