New German aid to the flood-affected people
Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms. Gudrun Kopp, announced at the National Day reception in Islamabad on 04 October 2011 that Germany will support emergency aid measures for the victims of the current floods in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces with 5.6 million euros (approx. 650 million ruppees). Gudrun Kopp visited Pakistan from 04 to 07 October 2011 to mark 50 years of Pakistan-German development cooperation.
“After the devastating floods last summer, millions of people are again heavily affected by this year’s flooding in southern Pakistan. Once more, Germany is on the side of the people of Pakistan and is supporting the emergency operation of the World Food Programme and non-governmental organisations with 5.6 million euros of which 4.6 million euros are coming from the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development whereas 1 million euros are coming from the Federal Foreign Office,” Ms. Kopp said.
The measures of the non-governmental organisations supported by Germany are particularly focused on cash-for-work programmes for women. Gudrun Kopp: “Women play a fundamental role in the economic and social situation of families, particularly in the disaster context. We especially want to strengthen their capacity to act.”
The current and last year’s floods illustrate how severely Pakistan is affected by natural disasters. “Germany will remain a reliable partner of Pakistan and its people, also in the context of natural disasters. But this is also the time to recall that intensified efforts by the Government of Pakistan are needed for disaster prevention and management. We will stay in close contact with the Government of Pakistan about these priorities,” said Gudrun Kopp.
Last but not least, together with two NGO partners the German Federal Government is continuing its efforts in support of the restoration of livelihoods and social infrastructure as well as disaster prevention in north-western Pakistan.
The Federal Republic of Germany had supported people affected by the floods in Pakistan in summer 2010 with 35 million Euro, bringing total German immediate relief aid to 3.75 billion Rupees. Germany's help is channelled through UN-Organizations and German humanitarian aid organizations to enable direct support of the people affected by the flooding.
Furthermore citizens in Germany have so far donated more than 200 million Euro (23.8 billion rupees) to the flood-affected people in Pakistan.
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Little boy receives meals at one of the "Child-friendly Spaces" (CFS) in Charsadda - NGO ARO (© ARO) -
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Prototype house to be built for the flood victims by the German NGO Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (© DKH) -
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German NGO HELP and its Pakistani partner CAMP providing shelter for the flood victims. (© CAMP) -
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German NGO HELP and its Pakistani partner CAMP providing mobile helath clinics in Baluchistan (© CAMP) -
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German NGO ADRA distributing flood aid goods in Shah Jamal, Muzaffargarh, Punjab (© ADRA)
