March 9, 2006	Thursday	Safar 8, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, March 8: The World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday welcomed a $2 million cash contribution from Saudi Arabia to help the quake survivors resume their lives.

WFP Country Director Michael Jones said: “We are very grateful to Saudi Arabia. This donation will enable us to assist the most vulnerable people for several months after the emergency and the winter months.”

Since October 8, WFP has provided food assistance to one million people in the mountainous region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province of the country.

As the operation is entering its next phase, WFP will provide assistance for the rehabilitation of the most needy and vulnerable part of the population affected by the earthquake.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been left most vulnerable by the earthquake. They not only lost their loved ones, but also their homes, fields, livestock and income sources. Many live in remote areas where food production, access to markets and employment will be restricted until basic infrastructure is restored.

Through a two-year operation, WFP plans to help some 670,000 people living or returning to the highland valleys through food- for-work and food-for-training projects.

About 450,000 children will benefit from school feeding projects.

People will receive family rations in exchange for their work in repairing community infrastructure, particularly secondary and tertiary roads and stabilization of mountain slopes to reactivate trade and facilitate access to markets.

This will help them until the next harvest in October.

Men and women will also have the opportunity to take part in projects to acquire marketable skills in composting fruit, nut tree production, animal welfare and block making for the construction of schools and houses.

“The donation from Saudi Arabia will allow us to buy the equipment and goods for the recovery projects such as fertilizers, seeds, tools, saplings. Without them, no recovery is possible,” Mr Jones said.

Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest donors to WFP’s relief operation in Pakistan with a total donation of $5.3 million ($3.3 million for the emergency phase and $2 million for the post-quake and recovery operation).