Switzerland is increasing its aid package to victims of Pakistan’s flooded areas by SFr1.5 million ($1.49 million), the foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
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The extra money, which brings Switzerland’s total contribution to SFr8.5 million, is being earmarked for helping the homeless with winter accommodation, seed and water purification.
A ministry spokesman told the Swiss News Agency that it would supplement existing projects of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
He added that the decision to increase Bern’s contribution came before last Friday’s appeal by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, for a record $2 billion from the international community to provide aid.
Ban described the floods in Pakistan as the worst natural disaster the UN had dealt with in 65 years.
Swiss Solidarity, a charity led by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, reports on its home page that private donations from Switzerland have raised almost SFr37 million for the flood victims.
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The additional funds – SFr404 million ($399 million) over two years – are to be used for climate and water projects, according to a foreign ministry statement on Friday. Poverty reduction remains the main task of development cooperation worldwide, and a prosperous and stable world is of key importance to Switzerland, the statement added. Parliament…
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Around 20 million people have been affected by the floods, prompting the United Nations to appeal for $460 million (SFr482 million) in aid. swissinfo.ch reports from among two of the most affected villages in the country, in the districts of Nowshera and Charsadda. A stack of old tapes, a bracelet and two handfuls of wet…
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By early Thursday morning, more than SFr13 million ($12.5 million) had been donated or pledged in one day, bringing the total to more than SFr16 million. Several cantonal governments donated lump sums, the largest being SFr500,000 from Zurich authorities. Swiss Solidarity, the charitable arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation behind the 18-hour-long event, took pains…
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Massive damage to streets, railways, homes and bridges. Drinking water is contaminated, threatening the health of many people, particularly the old and the young. More than three million people are believed to be affected by the flooding in northwestern Pakistan.
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