UN estimates another $840 mn needed for Pakistan

United Nations, April 26 (IANS) Pakistan needs additional funding of $840 million to overcome humanitarian problems caused by flooding and insecurity, UN spokesperson Eduardo del Buey said here Wednesday.

"The UN estimates that a further $840 million are needed to help families to recover from the effects of flooding and insecurity," he told reporters.

John Ging, director of operations at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Wednesday visited Jalozai Camp in Pakistan where he "commended the effectiveness of the partnership between aid agencies and the government of Pakistan in addressing the ongoing needs of some 7.2 million people affected by flooding and insecurity", del Buey said.

Many people have become displaced in Pakistan due to insecurity, reported Xinhua.

"According to OCHA, in northwest Pakistan, thousands of people fleeing security operations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been arriving in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on a daily basis," said del Buey.

"Since 20 January, 2012, a further 200,000 people have fled security operations in Khyber Agency, increasing the total number of people displaced from FATA overall to 700,000 people."

Pakistan has also been affected by flooding in 2010 and 2011, which has cost lives and damaged homes.

The UN has partnered with the Pakistani government to help manage and prepare for future crises.