ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 The government of Japan has pledged a financial support of $407,318 (Rs33.95 million) to a local NGO for the rehabilitation of flood survivors in Charsadda.

In the light of emergency assistance needs, the amount of the grant is four times larger than the usual upper limit of the “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme”.

The agreement for the project was signed here on Friday by Japanese Ambassador Chihiro Atsumi and Niamatullah Khan, president of Al-Khidmat Foundation.

The grant will be utilised for the flood relief activities in Charsadda, which has been severely affected in recent floods. The relief activities include the supply of Rs2,000 worth dry ration per family to the most deserving 14,000 families, provision of 700 tents and critical medical supplies for over 45,000 people.

This project on the whole will benefit more than 150,000 people who have lost their property, livestock, crop and shelter in the disaster. It will provide an immense relief to the affected families in this time of great need.

At the signing ceremony, Al-Khidmat Foundation displayed the project's items which would be provided to the people. Ambassador Atsumi appreciated the efforts of Al-Khidmat Foundation and its volunteers for providing their services at the time of emergencies.

He stressed that further efforts should be made to support people stuck in flood-hit areas. He also expressed hope that the emergency relief would further strengthen the existing friendly relations between the peoples of Japan and Pakistan.

Japan has so far extended around $19.8 million in the form of emergency grant assistance through the UN, Japanese NGOs and Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.