Switzerland launches water projects in Pakistan

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is launching projects for the disinfection and distribution of drinking water in flood-hit Pakistan.

About 250,000 people are expected to benefit, the Swiss authorities said in a statement on Monday evening.

International organisations will receive further support, and in cooperation with the Swiss Red Cross Society, tents will be distributed to 5,000 people.

Bern says that reconstruction in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan can only be achieved through long-term projects. At the moment, emergency aid is the priority and the emphasis is on saving lives.

The water projects are expected to improve drinking water quality for 50,000 people in the province of Sindh in the south of the country, 100,000 people in the Punjab region and 100,000 people in the region to the south of the Swat valley.

To improve the availability of drinking water in suburban regions, disinfection kits to purify water in wells are being prepared for distribution.

Support to international organisations is also being increased: the contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross is being raised by SFr2 million (1.9 million) to SFr5 million.

The World Food Programme will receive SFr1 million and about SFr1 million will be used for bilateral immediate aid. The secondment of experts to other international relief agencies is also being considered.

In the area of emergency accommodation, 1,000 tents as well as sleeping bags, household utensils and hygiene equipment are being purchased for 5,000 people.

swissinfo.ch and agencies