UK Aid relief items including emergency shelters arrive at Karachi Port

Islamabad: As part of the UK’s aid package, £2 million worth of relief items for the most vulnerable people affected by the devastating floods arrived in Pakistan from the UAE on Tuesday.

The relief items include emergency shelters for up to 194,300 people, and blankets and mats for up to 10,000 people. The emergency shelters include coverage and fixing kits, poles and peg sets. The UK will also provide water filters and hygiene supplies for 32,495 people to mitigate health risks. The first shipment of 19 containers arrived at the Karachi port on Tuesday with another 26 scheduled to follow in the coming days and weeks.

To date, the UK has committed a total of £16.5m to support flood relief efforts and the British public have donated over £25m via the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Pakistan Appeal. This appeal has notably been supported by the England men’s cricket team, who are currently touring Pakistan for the T20s, with the team making a personal donation which was then matched by the England Cricket Board.

In addition to this, earlier this month a UK Royal Air Force flight delivered 8 boats and 10 portable generators gifted in kind by the UK’s Ministry of Defence for use in flood relief operations. Meanwhile, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are also offering free relief shipments in their cargo.

British Deputy High Commissioner, Karachi, Sarah Mooney, said: “This UK aid shipment is the first of multiple consignments addressing the immediate needs of the people of Pakistan affected by the devastating floods. The UK will continue to provide assistance both in cash and in kind to ensure that communities not only rebuild but are also resilient to future calamities.”

The initial UK aid of £1.55 million is being spent to provide critical lifesaving assistance in Sindh (£900,000) and Baluchistan (£650,000).