Scottish Ministers are making total funding of over £900,000 available to assist Scottish-based organisations operating in Pakistan.
With emergency funding of £500,000 for humanitarian aid, and over £400,000 of development funding, the Scottish Government’s support will help deliver much-needed disaster relief and development work.
Scottish Ministers are making total funding of over £900,000 available to assist Scottish-based organisations operating in Pakistan.
With emergency funding of £500,000 for humanitarian aid, and over £400,000 of development funding, the Scottish Government’s support will help deliver much-needed disaster relief and development work.
Most recent indications from Pakistan are that over four million people are now affected by the floods, with over 1,600 dead. It is reported that even more rain is forecast. The most pressing needs are reported to be for clean drinking water, food, shelter and healthcare.
The £500,000 emergency funding will be made available to support immediate humanitarian aid efforts by Scottish-based organisations, as they establish exactly what is required and bid for funding based on what they are able to deliver on the ground.
External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said:
“The scale of destruction and human suffering caused by the flooding in Pakistan is truly appalling. It is our moral duty to do whatever is within our power to ease the suffering of the people whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy.
“In providing this assistance to Scottish organisations, Scotland is saying that it cares and that we stand ready to help in every way we can.”
A further £415,450 has been allocated to projects in Pakistan, this year, under the South Asia strand of the Scottish Government’s international development programme. This fund was opened earlier in the year inviting organisations to bid for support for projects helping local communities in South Asia to work their way out of extreme poverty.
Ms Hyslop added:
“Clearly circumstances have changed since initial applications were made to the South Asia fund. I have therefore asked Scottish Government officials to work closely with the five successful Pakistan projects to ensure there is flexibility so this year’s funding can be used where it is most urgently needed.
“While there are long-standing and enduring links between Scotland and Pakistan, with a significant Scots-Pakistani community here in Scotland, the scale of this disaster is provoking a generous and compassionate response from all Scots.
“I encourage the people of Scotland to continue to support the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal which is allowing humanitarian organisations to work to ease the suffering of people affected by this disaster.”
Gerry McLaughlin, Scottish Chair of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), said:
“We welcome the fact that the Scottish Government is making money available to assist the work of the relief agencies on the ground in Pakistan. It will make a real difference and help save lives.
“Aid of the most basic kind – shelter, food, clean water, medical care and sanitation – is needed urgently. The DEC has launched a nationwide appeal for cash to ensure that the millions of people who have lost everything in the floods get the help they so desperately need.”
Habib Malik of Islamic Relief, a recipient of development funding, said:
“I would like to thank the Scottish Government for this funding. I am honoured, and yet at the same time feel a great sense of responsibility that this money has been entrusted on behalf of the Scottish people, to Islamic Relief. I promise that I will do my utmost to be an effective guardian of this investment in the people of Pakistan, and am confident that this immense display of generosity will be appreciated.”
If you would like to donate to the appeal fund then visit https://www.donate.bt.com/dec_form_pfa.html