ISLAMABAD: In response to appeals by Pakistan to international community for humanitarian relief assistance for victims of recent floods in the country, Government of Brazil will distribute up to 710,000 tons of food items. It comprises 500,000 tons rice, 100,000 tons brown beans, 100,000 tons maize, 10,000 tons dried full milk with total cost estimated in Pak Rupee 36 billion (US$412 million),a Brazil Embassy press release said Thursday.
In view of logistical complexities in administrating transportation and distribution of such large volume of food items which require, among other resources, use of over 25 large grain container ships, Brazil government maintained its policy of relying on expertise and capabilities of United Nations World Food Program WFP for that undertaking. Brazil is now, 7th largest contributor to international relief assistance through WFP.
In 2011, Brazil government made additional contribution of Rs 30 million ($350,000) in cash for direct humanitarian assistance to victims of floods in Pakistan which were made available to UN High Commission for Refugees to be exclusively allocated to its operations in Pakistan. In 2010, Brazil also joined international efforts to mitigate disastrous effects of floods with contributions of over Rs 100 million ($1.2 million) in cash for assistance to Pakistan through these same UN agencies. In addition to above, more contributions in cash will be sent from Brazil to Pakistan this year.
All these contributions reflect not only historical brotherly relations between Brazil & Pakistan, but also genuine and sincere solidarity of people of both countries, victims of these disasters, whose plight was made even more evident by also severe, albeit in a much lesser scale, floods that victimized many Brazilians in south-eastern region of the country.
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