The Government of France has donated EUR 3.5 million to WFP in support of the ongoing flood response in Pakistan who are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.
The Government of France has donated EUR 3.5 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) in support of the ongoing flood response for women and children in Pakistan who are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.
The money will enable WFP to provide vital assistance to thousands of under-fives, pregnant and nursing women, and girls in Sindh and Balochistan who are suffering from acute malnutrition.
Despite the fact that most of Pakistan’s previously unheard-of floods have subsided, the nation now faces a new, deadly threat. Millions of people are struggling to afford and obtain nourishing food in the face of high inflation, particularly due to rising food prices, and severe acute malnutrition cases, which can be fatal, are emerging among women and children in some of the flood-wracked districts.
In a meeting with WFP today, Nicolas Galey, the French ambassador to Pakistan, said, “The French Government’s support to WFP reflects another step in France’s solidarity towards the people of Pakistan and particularly the vulnerable communities in Sindh and Balochistan that were most impacted by the 2022 floods.”
With a focus on the nutrition of women, girls, and children under five, he continued, “This timely contribution will support ongoing efforts to improve food security and to bolster community resilience.”
A rapid survey conducted in 15 flood-affected districts in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan found that 14% of children between the ages of 6 and 23 months and 29% of children under the age of 6 have severe acute malnutrition.
“WFP is extremely concerned about Pakistan’s impending nutrition crisis. It is especially heartbreaking to see an increase in the number of women and children who suffer from severe acute malnutrition. WFP is still committed to acting as quickly as possible to resolve the issue. We are extremely grateful for the funding provided by the French government because it will enable us to reach some of the most vulnerable communities and offer them life-saving assistance.”
The latest in a line of significant donations totaling EUR 3.5 million, it demonstrates the French government’s dedication to working with others to eradicate malnutrition and aid Pakistan in its recovery from the recent floods.
Additionally, France previously provided EUR 1 million in 2022 to the Integrated Nutrition-Safety Net Project for pregnant and nursing women in Sindh affected by floods and EUR 2 million to support WFP’s flood response efforts in 2017.
A lifeline will be given to hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by last year’s devastating floods thanks to the total contribution of EUR 6.5 million.