PESHAWAR: The United States has pledged $21 million to provide seeds and fertilisers to flood-affected farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The money will help ensure there is a viable crop of wheat this winter and prevent future food insecurity.
Out of total amount, $16m for the programme would be provided under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, sources in US embassy informed.
An additional $5 million will come from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for the programme which would be implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Under the programme, wheat seed, vegetable seed and fertilizer packages would be provided to help approximately 1.7 million people in 12 districts, particularly female-headed households, female farmers, and households with children under five years old, sources informed.
Moreover, Washington has also announced that it is providing $5 million to fight malaria in flood-affected regions of Pakistan.
The US, in partnership with Ministry of Health, is providing the money to the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in its anti-malaria programmes.
The funds will be used to preposition rapid testing kits and anti-malarial medications. It will also go towards educational programmes designed to teach at-risk communities the early warning signs of a malaria outbreak.
Sources informed that on September 13 and 14, the US Air force transported 55,600 pounds of assistance from Sukkur to Jacobabad and 40,000 pounds of WFP humanitarian assistance from Sukkur to Jacobabad as well as 70,000 pounds of humanitarian relief supplies from Sialkot to Quetta and Chaklala to Skardu.
The US Marine Corps transported 14,190 pounds of supplies from Chaklala to Gilgit and 29,700 pounds of supplies to areas west of Sukkur. The US army delivered 64,152 pounds of supplies to the upper Swat valley and Kohistan and evacuated 58 internally displaced persons, they added. -statesman
