The U.S. Provides Food Vouchers to Flood-Affected Families

August 14, 2010

Islamabad - The United States is providing vouchers for the local purchase of food to 20,000 families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPk) Province.

"These food vouchers will allow people to purchase the food they ordinarily eat, which will help restore some normalcy for families who have suffered so much from the floods," said Ambassador Anne Patterson.  "But these food vouchers don't just help the families who receive them.  They also help stimulate the struggling local economy."  Shopkeepers who participate in the voucher program will generate income, allowing them to restock their stores, repair flood damage, and purchase additional goods for their own families.

The food voucher program, valued at approximately $4.1 million, will assist flood-affected families that have not yet received emergency food support from other sources.  Each selected family will receive vouchers worth a total of US$150 (Rs 12,750), which will allow a family to purchase the majority of the food needed for a two month period.

To date, the United States has committed nearly $76 million in Pakistan emergency flood relief assistance.