PepsiCo expands 'Millions of Meals' program to enable food provisions for flood-affected Pakistanis

PepsiCo and its global employees have united to provide "Millions of Meals" to flood-hit communities across Pakistan

 

When disasters strike, hunger always exacerbates the impact. This has become painfully obvious in the last three months as Pakistan faced the worst natural disaster yet in the form of devastating floods that have taken the lives of more than 2000 people and have displaced and affected millions of families across the country.

Climate change, further exacerbated by unsustainable development, led to the kind of destruction we haven’t seen before in the country. Flood water inundated all the provinces, with major impact in Sindh and Balochistan, along with Southern Punjab.

In the midst of these losses, the survivors remain vulnerable to hunger. With diminished food supplies, destroyed crops and livestock numbers, and lack of nutrition, it is feared that it will be a precursor to other issues like susceptibility to disease, illnesses and malnutrition.

The World Food Programme sees this disaster as a chilling reminder of food shortages and food scarcity in the short and long term. As more and more is poured into the effort to protect survivors from these vulnerabilities, it is fast becoming obvious that any effort to provide relief will need an “all hands on deck” approach.

Whether it is public authorities, development organisations, agencies or private philanthropists and aid organisations, a united front will matter in the long run, and this is exactly why PepsiCo Pakistan has restarted its “Millions of Meals” program.

The PepsiCo “Millions of Meals” Program came about as part of the company’s commitment to do good for the planet and the communities it operates in. A continuous effort is already made to ensure that the communities where PepsiCo works become partners in progress. However, this program is significant since it provides an urgent solution to a developing problem in the aftermath of a disaster that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called “climate carnage”.

The program centres on providing immediate and urgent food provisions in the form of five million meals for communities across Pakistan that have been destroyed during the floods.

As the water recedes, it leaves behind a trail of destruction, with compromised food supply and lack of necessities further adding to survivors’ woes. Through Millions of Meals, communities most at risk of hunger will get the immediate food provisions that they need.

This will be done in partnership with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Rizq, and Akhuwat. These organisations have extensive on-ground disaster assessment and relief network, and paired with PepsiCo Pakistan’s own reach within communities, the aim is to reach the largest number of affected people possible to provide meals with dignity. The program is funded by The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic partner of PepsiCo.

Millions of Meals kits featuring food essentials disbursed among flood affectees in partnership with Akhuwat Pakistan (Kumrat, KP). Photo: PepsiCo

In addition to this commitment, the scale of the program has also been increased. To reach even more communities with life-saving food assistance, the PepsiCo Foundation has now launched a global employee matching gift program whereby donations from company employees from across the world will be doubled. This innovative approach to fundraising gives worldwide employees of PepsiCo an opportunity to support their Pakistani counterparts and the communities they work in at a dire time.

Furqan Ahmed Syed, CEO PepsiCo Pakistan and Afghanistan Business Unit shared his thoughts:

The current humanitarian crisis is impacting millions, leaving many without sufficient food supplies. Together with our partners on-the-ground, we are maximising food distribution to people across remote geographies in all four provinces.

We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support that is pouring in from our PepsiCo colleagues from across the world, enabling us to provide access to food for the most impacted communities."

Mr Nadir Gul Barech, COO PPAF said:

We are humbled to be part of PepsiCo’s ‘Millions of Meals’ initiative and reaching out to the most flood-affected areas in dire need of relief assistance since some of these areas are located in the most inaccessible parts of the country.

The PepsiCo supported endeavour which includes provision of essential food items, is part of countrywide flood relief activities undertaken by PPAF to alleviate the hardships of communities who have lost almost everything, and are looking for support and assistance to fulfil their immediate needs.”

With monetary support from PepsiCo, PPAF will provide food provisions to 6000 households in selective districts of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Dr Amjad Saqib, CEO of Akhuwat Foundation, shared similar sentiments:

“In these trying times when Pakistan is experiencing devastation at an enormous level, we are standing tall because of the support and generosity of people and organisations alike. PepsiCo’s ‘Millions of Meals’ program addressing food insecurity during this time of national emergency is a commendable step.

As their implementation partner, Akhuwat will ensure that these resources reach those who are in need the most. Humanity is beyond all frontiers.”