Islamabad- The Government of Denmark is through its implementing partners, Danchurchaid and Church World Service (CWS) providing urgent food supplies to more than 1100 displaced families, who have fled their homes due to militant conflicts in their area and are expected to be displaced for six to nine months. The Danish supported five-day food distribution concluded yesterday and took place in three Union Counsils: Sheikh Muhammadi, Surizai Payan and Badher of Peshawar district.
The food supplies are being given to the IDPs, who live far away from the Jalozai refugee camp, as they have been facing issues in reaching down to the camp and get help and assistance. The food packages are designed to meet the average family’s daily intake needs of 2,100 kilocalories, fat, and protein for one month.
”The situation of the IDPs is unfortunately a huge human and national challenge. Such kind of displacements give rise to particular vulnerabilities for those affected, necessitating special measures for assistance and protection that correspond to those vulnerabilities” said the Danish Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Uffe Wolffhechel. “ Many IDPs cannot bear the financial cost of traveling to the food distribution camps nor are the women, who head their households able to travel alone . They are more at risk of surviving without external assistance, which is why our focal point for this distribution process has been the ones living far flung from the camps”
Mr. Kristian Pedersen, emergency coordinator of Danidas implementing partner, DanChurchAid expressed gratitude that they with the support from Danida are able assist 1,140 vulnerable families with food assistance for one month. ”Many people have been forced out of their homes without any belongings other than what they could bear or wear. The families are not able to go the long distances to the official distribution points and that is why the food we are assisting with is so important. These people have left everything behind them and have nothing, so our assistance is very much needed”, says Kristian Pedersen.
DCA have used USD 135.000 from Danidas Emergency Response Fund to assist the displaced persons in Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Northwest Pakistan.
During the food distribution, both the teams of DCA and CWS were present to ensure that the needy families received the required assistance and support. “These families are living in very poor conditions without sufficient access to food, shelter, health, and water and sanitation, said CWS Coordinator, Rabia Sabri. ”CWS and DCA were the first organizations to assist these off-camp IDPs. The distribution of food is done in the most dignifying manner, with special emphasis on preserving the dignity of women, the disabled, and the elderly. They still have lots of unmet needs and we along with the support of the Pakistani authorities and our partners are committed to assisting these people until their lives are back to normal”.
The Government of Denmark’s development agency, Danida launched its first phase of long term development cooperation with Pakistan in 2010, where Denmark is contributing USD 28 Million for democratic development, regional stability, human rights and gender equality. Denmark has also previously supported Pakistan with humanitarian assistance both during the earthquake and the floods in 2010-11 where Denmark contributed with a total of USD 30 Million for flood relief response.