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Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Volume 494: debated on Thursday 25 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to aid refugees from the Swat valley living in camps or ad hoc accommodation; and if he will make a statement. (281672)

The Department for International Development (DFID) has so far made available £22 million of humanitarian aid for those people who have been displaced by conflict in Pakistan's federally administered tribal areas and north west frontier province, including the Swat valley. £12.5 million of this has been allocated to support the UN co-ordinated Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan and £9 million has been allocated to the International Committee for the Red Cross. The remainder of our funding is being used to support a local non governmental organisation working with the displaced and to help the overall coordination of the humanitarian effort.

An estimated total of 2.4 million people have been displaced, of which about 200,000 are living in camps and the rest with host communities. DFID's funding is providing food, shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare and protection for the most vulnerable. DFID is also making contributions to the funding that is being provided by the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund and by the European Commission.