PESHAWAR, Sept 19: The World Food Programme (WFP), which had halved the size of food handouts to internally displaced persons owing to scarcity of funds, has increased the existing size to its previous level after receiving assistance from the governments of Pakistan and Australia.
WFP country director Jean-Lue Siblot told a ceremony at Jalozai camp, Nowshera on Wednesday that Pakistan government had contributed 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat valued $16 million while Australian government had donated $5 million for the IDPs.
Australian High Commissioner to Islamabad Peter Heyward, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare and Women Affairs Sitara Ayaz, Additional Secretary Abdul Basit Khan and other senior officers also attended the ceremony.
Mr Siblot said that the UN agency had been feeding 1.2 million displaced people, who fled their areas owing to insecurity, in the province. He said that distribution of food items among IDPs was started after receiving assistance from Pakistan and Australia.
He said that the 50,000 metric tonnes wheat would help WFP to maintain relief rations until December. He was confident that international donors would recognise the government’s commitment. He urged them to follow Australia’s example and provide much-needed additional support for the displaced persons.
Mr Siblot said that WFP would focus attention elsewhere when there would be no IDPs in Jalozai, which presently housed one of fifth of the total displaced population.
The UN agency had minimised food rations to IDPs owing to shortage of resources. Officials said that food handouts were brought to the previous level after receiving fresh donations for the IDPs mostly belonging to Khyber Agency.
Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward told the gathering that his government would continue to assist WFP. He said that his government had donated $50 million to WFP to continue its operations in Pakistan.
He said that Australia had provided total $150 million to the UN agency for feeding affected population in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.
“It would be better that this camp will not be here,” the diplomat said while expressing concern over the plight of displaced persons. He was briefed about mechanism of distribution of food and camp management at Jalozai.
Earlier, the displaced persons staged a protest demonstration against what they called the harsh attitude of the camp’s management and lack of facilities.
The protesters were carrying black flags and blocked main gate to stop entry of the high commissioner.
They said that torrential rains had damaged their tents and belongings.
They complained that camp’s management and NGOs had conducted damage assessment survey at the camp but the authorities concerned had yet to compensate them.
After getting assurances from senior officers they ended their protest.