PESHAWAR: The UN refugee agency has handed over 7,000 tents and thousands of other emergency relief goods to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after flash floods devastated homes in many districts.

The assistance will benefit tens of thousands of flood affected people in coming days, according to a statement issued here on Friday. The items included 133,244 blankets, 80,000 mosquito nets, 35,347 jerrycans, 23,898 kitchen sets, plastic tarpaulins, buckets, solar lamps, and others.

UNHCR head of sub-office in Peshawar Gayrat Ahmadshoev and PDMA director- general Sharif Hussain signed a memorandum for the handover of relief goods for immediate distribution to disaster survivors.

The PDMA DG welcomed the UNHCR contribution and said the UN agency’s support was timely and important and would greatly help the efforts of the authorities to assist the people of the province in the current crisis.

The UNHCR’s representative said his organisation was committed to supporting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and its people for flood relief and rehabilitation.

“Our teams have been out to visit flood-affected communities and provide our emergency support adding to the ongoing effort of Pakistani authorities. We are working closely with the PDMA and will do everything we can at this time to help and stand by the people of the province,” he said.

Mr Ahmadshoev said the UNHCR had been part of the monsoon response since July when the agency started to provide relief items and assistance for refugees and host communities.

He also said the UN agency directly provided tents to the flood-affected refugees and host communities through its partners.

“Shelter is very important in responding to the needs of people whose houses have been destroyed and washed away. More needs to be done. We are committed as much as we can to continuing to support. International solidarity is vital, right now,” he said.

The UNHCR representative said his organisation was leading ‘protection efforts’ as part of the UN’s support to the monsoon response.

He said relief items provided to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, included sanitary kits for women and girls, and emergency reproductive and clinical delivery health kits.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022