Norway provides USD 2.5 million to aid flood victims in Pakistan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allocating USD 2.5 million to relief efforts following the disastrous flooding in Pakistan. At least 340 people have died in the floods, and 2.5 million have been affected.

The floods have driven more than 300 000 people from their homes and caused extensive material damage in several provinces, particularly Balochistan and Sindh.

The most severe damage has been to infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and power lines. At the same time, a great many people are in need of temporary shelter, food, clean water, equipment and sanitation facilities. Tens of thousands have been housed in makeshift camps, and more and more people are seeking refuge in these camps.

“There is a great need for emergency relief, and it is urgent to get the aid through, not least in order to prevent epidemics. Because of the political unrest following the dramatic events at the Red Mosque in Islamabad, the flood rescue and relief efforts have received less attention than expected,” said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.

A significant share of the funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be channelled through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNICEF, in response to a UN flash appeal issued in Geneva on Wednesday 18 July. Some funds are also being provided for the relief efforts being carried out by the International Red Cross/Norwegian Red Cross and Norwegian NGOs.

Press contact: Information Adviser Wera Helstrøm, tel.:+ 47 99 40 93 23.