Pakistan turns second largest donor to WFP

Pakistan has emerged as the second largest donor for a United Nations body by donating 150,000 metric tons of wheat to World Food Programme (WFP) in 2013, said an official press release. WFP Pakistan said it aimed to assist 8.3 million people between 2013 and 2015 at a total cost of USD 535 million with projects to improve economic opportunities and promote social inclusion in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), boost community resilience in disaster-prone areas, and address nutrition and education needs in the country. The spokesman for WFP Pakistan, Amjad Jamal said, "this year's donation, valued at USD 52 million has placed Pakistan as WFP's second largest donor in 2013 which demonstrated the government's continued ownership of development process and a strong commitment to helping its people in need." International donors have provided complementary funding of USD 29 million out of the total requirement of USD 43 million, he added. Jamal further said that more than 70,000 metric tons of wheat were successfully delivered to both displaced and flood-affected communities in 2012, following a highly positive response from other donors to WFP's appeal for complementary "twinning" funds. The assistance was provided at a time when critical funding shortages threatened the provision of emergency food assistance in the country. The WFP spokesman said that they are aiming to assist about eight million people at a total cost of USD 540 million over the next three years. The operation also seeks to improve economic opportunities and promote social inclusion in FATA, and prevent and treat moderate acute malnutrition among young children and women in country's most food-insecure districts.