Press release
06 August 2010
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Gunilla Carlsson on the humanitarian situation in Pakistan
"Sweden is closely following the worrying developments in Pakistan, which in particular are affecting many children, and is planning further support to respond to the enormous humanitarian needs caused by the monsoon rains," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson. "The Pakistani Embassy has contacted the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and requested Sweden's support to ease the immediate needs and help in reconstruction efforts.
Sweden has already contributed SEK 94 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan this year in light of the major humanitarian needs the country was already facing prior to the floods. Some of these contributions will be used to meet the needs that have arisen as a result of the monsoon rains. Sweden is contributing, for example, approximately SEK 10 million to the funds that have so far been allocated to Pakistan from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund.
Through Sida, Sweden is now planning to provide initial humanitarian support amounting to around SEK 25 million, and Sida will decide today to contribute SEK 20 million to UNICEF and UNHCR efforts in Pakistan. These funds will help provide hundreds of thousands of people with shelter, tents and equipment, medical care, clean water and improved sanitation. Orphaned children will receive support and access to temporary schooling. A further SEK 2 million will go to the Norwegian Refugee Council for projects in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's Charsadda district. The funds will be used to provide shelter for those affected, with the distribution of tents as the main focus.
As part of its support to Pakistan, Sida is considering channelling resources, if necessary, through the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and potential Swedish partner organisations such as the Church of Sweden, Save the Children Sweden, Doctors without Borders, the Swedish Red Cross and Plan Sweden."
Contact
Peter Larsson+46 8 405 10 00
