Australia boosts WFP education programme in Fata

Islamabad: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a three year contribution of US$4.5 million from the Australian Government to support food and nutrition security among displaced communities in Pakistan.

Australia’s contribution will be used for WFP’s education programme in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Frontier Regions (FR). The funding will enable WFP to provide food-based assistance in schools and to alleviate the burden on families of having their children attend school.

Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson said Australia had a long-standing history of working with the Government of Pakistan to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by crisis. “Since 2010 Australia has provided more than AU$ 95million in humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, in partnership with the WFP, to support the victims of earthquakes, floods and displacement.  Australia’s assistance has also helped provide nutrition to acute malnourished women and children, livelihood support and school feeding programmes,” High Commissioner Adamson said.

“We are very grateful to the people and Government of Australia for this contribution. These funds will address critical education needs in Fata and FR for the returnee communities,” WFP acting Country Director Stephen Gluning said.

In 2016, Australia has contributed $9 million to WFP programmes, placing it among the top five donors to WFP Pakistan.

"The Government of Pakistan extends its gratitude to the Australian Government for its unshrinking support,” the Federal Minister of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt. General (r) Abdul Qadir said.