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UNHCR gets $6.8 million in quake funds, needs additional $11.2 million
urgently
09 November 2005
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 09 November (UNHCR) – A fresh contribution from Norway has
brought the UN refugee agency’s earthquake relief fund to US$6.8 million, but
more is needed to save lives in the next few weeks before the onset of winter.
This week, Norway announced the donation of 7 million krone (US$1.085 million)
to UNHCR in Pakistan, joining other donors like Sweden (over $2.5 million),
Japan ($1 million), Canada (over $854,000), Turkey ($500,000, plus land
transport for NATO airlift from southern Turkey), Italy (over $323,000) and the
Czech Republic ($300,000).
“Winter is at our doorstep,” said UNHCR Representative in Pakistan Guenet Guebre
Christos. “This is a critical time to give earthquake survivors a roof over
their heads and somewhere warm to ride out the brutal cold. We are very grateful
for the support we’ve received thus far, and appeal for more funds for this
life-saving operation.”
As head of the camp management cluster in the UN joint response to the October 8
earthquake, UNHCR is currently assisting the Pakistan military, local and
international NGOs in 18 organised camps with a capacity for 3,200 displaced
families. It is also working with partners to reach out to hundreds of
spontaneous camps that have sprung up across the affected areas.
The agency needs $18 million by the end of November to set up 30 camps for
150,000 quake survivors. Despite the $6.8 million already pledged, the shortfall
of $11.2 million will affect UNHCR’s ability to continue distributing relief
supplies like tents and blankets as winter closes in, and its ability to deploy
quick impact mobile teams to solve technical problems – like water and
sanitation – in organised and spontaneous camps.
Media Contact: Ms. Vivian Tan, Mobile: ++92-300 500 1133
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