press releases
U.S. To Provide $2.8 Million To NGOs For Earthquake Activities
04/26/2006
Islamabad - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced four grants totaling more than $2.8 million under its Earthquake Transition Assistance program. The grants are among the more than $13 million that the U.S. government is providing to help earthquake-affected people re-establish their village communities during the post-relief phase. Activities under these grants will be implemented between April and December 2006.
Three programs will assist tehsils and union councils in providing support for livelihoods for their local areas. The implementing USAID partners are Concern International and the Rural Support Program Network, which will receive funding for two programs. Both non-governmental organizations have already been working with tehsils and union councils and will customize the livelihoods programs to meet local needs.
These new transition programs work to re-establish an economic base in rural communities through agriculture and livestock development support. They also provide additional economic opportunities through vocational training and micro-lending/-business development programs. Some of the programs feature a voucher system, in which families are given a credit and decide in which economic development programs in their communities they wish to invest from an accepted list of options. Some programs repair and improve water supply and sanitation systems.
The fourth program, run by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), focuses on providing improved maize seed to assist farmers and rebuild food security in the earthquake region.
In all USAID transition programs, assistance is provided to people in their home communities. The beneficiaries spent the winter in relief camps, in host homes, with relatives or remained in their villages. USAID partners pay special attention to the specific needs of vulnerable people, such as the elderly, widows and those with disabilities.
The three new grants represent a continuity of U.S. support for those affected by the earthquake. The United States provided more than $200 million in disaster and humanitarian assistance during the relief phase following the October 8 earthquake and will invest another $200 million in reconstruction over the next four years. U.S. corporations and private citizens have pledged an additional amount exceeding $100 million. The total U.S. pledge for earthquake relief and reconstruction is $510 million.
In addition, the United States, through USAID, is providing more than $1.5 billion in development assistance to Pakistan over the next five years to improve education, health, governance and economic growth.