Making Money While Rebuilding a Community

In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has launched job-creation initiatives in two locations. The affected populations can now learn a living again and restart their lives while rebuilding their community by the means this program offers.

Removal of rubble from streets, drain construction, paving of roads, and debris disposal are some of the cash-for-work initiatives the employees are working for five days per week. The amount of pay they receive is equivalent in US dollars to between $4.70 and $7.00 for six hours of labor which helps people buy food and clothes for their family. It also brings hope three months after the worst flood in Pakistan's history.

“The cash-for-work projects are bringing immediate benefits to people and their communities,” said Rabia Khattak, Chief of UNDP’s Crisis Prevention and Early Recovery Unit. “But to succeed they have to reach many more people, and this requires sustained support from our national and international partners.”

-Shereen Alibhai

SOURCE: UNDP

UN and US rush supplies to flood hit Pakistan

The United States and the United Nations have been increasing their humanitarian efforts in response to the worst flooding to hit Pakistan in 80 years. The flooding, which saw 12" of rain fall in a 36 hour period, has killed an estimated 1500 people and uprooted over 3 million inhabitants. The flooding has washed out bridges and over burdened Pakistani resources to cope with the distaster, prompting sharp criticism from Pakistani residents who are gradually losing faith in their government.

The WFP has already deployed emergency rations to 3,000 families in some of the hardest hit regions, with plans to expand the emergency aid to benefit 150,000 families within the next few days. In addition to the aid that the UN is already supplying through its own programs and the WFP, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has also pledged ten million dollars through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which was set up in 2006 to provide emergency aid to people affected by natural disasters.

The US has also responded to the disaster with assistance of its own. Four inflatable rescue boats and water filtration units that can fulfill the daily water requirements for 20,000 people are going to be used as part of the US assistance. In addition 50,000 halal meals (food that is allowed under Islamic law) and temporary infrastructure units are also going to be delivered.

-Matthew Thwaites

SOURCES: "Ban authorizes release of relief funds for flood-hit Pakistan"-UN News, "UN rushing food to victims of deadly Pakistan floods"-UN News, "U.S. Accelerates Flood Relief Assistance to Pakistan"-US Department of State, "Pakistan's devastating floods"-Al Jazeera