Islamabad—The US emergency and recovery assistance turned tide in the flood ravaged areas of Pakistan where food, agriculture, health care and educational programmes improved life of millions of distraught Pakistanis.
In an interaction with Pakistan Observer, Dr. Andrew B. Sisson, Mission Director of USAID said relief and recovery programmers launched by USAID, directly or through NGOs and government of Pakistan have impacted positively as its feed- back is encouraging. There is gratifying and emotional response from the people of Pakistan, he said.
USAID as a partner went massively spending more than $ 1200 million in emergency and recovery operations. The operation included provision of emergency shelter to 650,000 households, helped many more to repair shelter upon return to flood-affected areas, safe drinking water to 4.3 million people, flood vouchers for 521,000, food for 223,000 families for six months through the UN World Food Programme and healthcare to 9 million people.
Referring to revival of agriculture in the affected areas, he said five million people were helped to plant crops and keep their livestock. As a result, farmers received much higher wheat production than the years before. Other crops like sunflower also increased farmers’ income which otherwise were in precarious condition. Fifty thousand families received good income from this new crop. Together with restored irrigation canals, the seeds will continue giving higher yields and better incomes for several years.
Regarding other flood recovery assistance, Dr. Andrew B. Sisson said $ 190 million were donated to the Government of Pakistan’s Citizens’ Damage Compensation Fund, which will give cash grants to 1.6 million families in the affected areas.
Twenty two flood-damaged fisheries in Malakand were restored while 4000-plus acres of mango orchards were rehabilitated.
He said water pumps were installed in villages. Citing a touching scene during such help, he said the aid team went to a village outside Muzafargarh last week to install a water pump. Tears brought to the eyes of the people on receiving much needed clean water. Thousands of villagers were helped through such projects, he said.
To another question, he said Mango farmers were assisted to secure their crops from diseases. Technology was provided to make this crop and other crops value added. Mangoes have made their way into the US market now. Referring to quality, flavour and aroma of Pakistani mangoes, he said “Pakistani mangoes are tastier than American mangoes.”
When asked to elaborate the educational projects, he said this sector has been given priority as over $760 million have been spent since 2002. There is an education emergency in Pakistan and goal of USAID is to put two million kids in school. As a result of our projects, 900,000 more children are attending schools now. The other achievements included improved teaching quality and learning environment for 1.1 million students, 9,000 low-income students got scholarships to attend university, 716 students sent to US for master’s and PhD study, 23,000 children at schools in IDP camps in FATA and KP, 10,000 school administrators and teachers trained, ninety teacher training colleges upgraded and twenty universities received science equipment and operational expenses.
On Fulbright Scholarship programme which is the largest Fulbright programme in the world, he said $ 197 million would be spent from 2005-2014 with 814 scholarships since 2005.
The Mission Director said universities which received substantially through USAID assistance included LUMS, IBA in Karachi, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
A substantial amount is also being used for renovation and reconstruction of schools, he said. He said Pakistani teachers and students are talented who possessed all qualities to make future of their country bright.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=111631
In an interaction with Pakistan Observer, Dr. Andrew B. Sisson, Mission Director of USAID said relief and recovery programmers launched by USAID, directly or through NGOs and government of Pakistan have impacted positively as its feed- back is encouraging. There is gratifying and emotional response from the people of Pakistan, he said.
USAID as a partner went massively spending more than $ 1200 million in emergency and recovery operations. The operation included provision of emergency shelter to 650,000 households, helped many more to repair shelter upon return to flood-affected areas, safe drinking water to 4.3 million people, flood vouchers for 521,000, food for 223,000 families for six months through the UN World Food Programme and healthcare to 9 million people.
Referring to revival of agriculture in the affected areas, he said five million people were helped to plant crops and keep their livestock. As a result, farmers received much higher wheat production than the years before. Other crops like sunflower also increased farmers’ income which otherwise were in precarious condition. Fifty thousand families received good income from this new crop. Together with restored irrigation canals, the seeds will continue giving higher yields and better incomes for several years.
Regarding other flood recovery assistance, Dr. Andrew B. Sisson said $ 190 million were donated to the Government of Pakistan’s Citizens’ Damage Compensation Fund, which will give cash grants to 1.6 million families in the affected areas.
Twenty two flood-damaged fisheries in Malakand were restored while 4000-plus acres of mango orchards were rehabilitated.
He said water pumps were installed in villages. Citing a touching scene during such help, he said the aid team went to a village outside Muzafargarh last week to install a water pump. Tears brought to the eyes of the people on receiving much needed clean water. Thousands of villagers were helped through such projects, he said.
To another question, he said Mango farmers were assisted to secure their crops from diseases. Technology was provided to make this crop and other crops value added. Mangoes have made their way into the US market now. Referring to quality, flavour and aroma of Pakistani mangoes, he said “Pakistani mangoes are tastier than American mangoes.”
When asked to elaborate the educational projects, he said this sector has been given priority as over $760 million have been spent since 2002. There is an education emergency in Pakistan and goal of USAID is to put two million kids in school. As a result of our projects, 900,000 more children are attending schools now. The other achievements included improved teaching quality and learning environment for 1.1 million students, 9,000 low-income students got scholarships to attend university, 716 students sent to US for master’s and PhD study, 23,000 children at schools in IDP camps in FATA and KP, 10,000 school administrators and teachers trained, ninety teacher training colleges upgraded and twenty universities received science equipment and operational expenses.
On Fulbright Scholarship programme which is the largest Fulbright programme in the world, he said $ 197 million would be spent from 2005-2014 with 814 scholarships since 2005.
The Mission Director said universities which received substantially through USAID assistance included LUMS, IBA in Karachi, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
A substantial amount is also being used for renovation and reconstruction of schools, he said. He said Pakistani teachers and students are talented who possessed all qualities to make future of their country bright.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=111631
