Media Release

Australia to help Pakistan effectively deal with natural disasters

Australia will provide $A400,000 to help Pakistan effectively deal with natural disasters.

The Australian Government funding will assist to build the capacity of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.

Australia’s assistance will help establish district-level disaster-management authorities and support local and community institutions in four high-priority areas vulnerable to flooding, earthquake and cyclone disasters. These districts include Quetta and Kech in Balochistan and Badin and Thatta in Sindh.

Australian support will form part of a larger four-year United Nations Development Program (UNDP) program to help the Government of Pakistan carry out priorities identified in the Natural Disaster Management Framework. The UNDP program runs until 2011.

Australia has been a substantial contributor to humanitarian and emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts in Pakistan. Australia’s humanitarian contribution for post-earthquake relief and reconstruction in Pakistan stands at $74 million, making Australia the 10th largest bilateral donor to earthquake relief, while Australia also committed over $3 million to the relief effort following the Balochistan and Sindh floods in 2007, making it the 4th largest bilateral donor to flood relief programs.

Australia’s new assistance will complement earlier work with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority and is part of Australia’s growing aid engagement with Pakistan.

Media Contact: Australian High Commission Islamabad