Islamabad, August 31, 2010 - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided nearly $2 million to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support the humanitarian logistics operation and the provision of much-needed emergency relief supplies for health, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs. This funding is in addition to the $2.5 million previously provided through the World Food Program for the humanitarian logistics operation.

USAID funding is supporting the delivery of shelter materials and other relief supplies to flood-affected areas of Pakistan through the establishment and maintenance of an efficient logistics pipeline that allows for the rapid receipt and distribution of relief items. Working in support of the Government of Pakistan, the USAID-funded logistics operation includes a trucking service for humanitarian aid that is requested in coordination with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and flown into Chaklala airbase in Islamabad. The relief supplies are then trucked to hubs for onward distribution via mule, jeep, aircraft or other means. Additional logistics hubs will be created based upon need as additional areas of interventions continue to materialize.

With this USAID funding, IOM can quickly provide relief supplies to flood-affected areas, including Thatta District where thousands of displaced people are returning as floods recede.

The United States has provided more than $150 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Pakistan to date. In support of the Government of Pakistan, the current U.S. flood relief priorities are to reach those in inaccessible areas and provide them aid, assure the current flood emergency is not compounded by a health crisis, and utilize all appropriate USG resources efficiently and effectively.