WFP begins food distribution to victims

ISLAMABAD: The World Food Programme (WFP) has started food distributions to 35,000 families hit by the catastrophic floods in northwestern Pakistan, which has also affected parts of neighbouring Afghanistan, according to a WFP press release received on Monday. Distribution of emergency food supplies started on Sunday, to 3,000 families in three of the worst affected districts – Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda – with the assistance of WFP’s strong network of non-government organisations (NGO) partners in the region, the release said. “We are deeply saddened to hear that so many people who have already suffered terribly in recent years are now seeing their lives washed away,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran from the organisation’s Rome headquarters. “We stand with them as they deal with this enormous shock. WFP is mobilising every possible resource to make sure their needs are met as quickly as is humanly possible,” Sheeran said. According to the release, in support of national efforts, WFP Pakistan plans to assist up to 150,000 families over the next two to three months as access to the affected areas improves. “With water levels still high and many key bridges destroyed, access remains limited in many places. WFP is assisting the government’s disaster management authorities with assessments in three of the worst affected districts, and a joint aerial assessment of the Peshawar valley was being conducted on Sunday,” the release said.