Islamabad, 11 Oct 2023:U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Ambassador Blome, on his recent two-day trip to Northern Sindh (October 10-11), accentuated the persistent efforts of the United States in aiding Pakistan to counteract the ravaging impacts of the 2022 floods, amidst an ongoing acute malnutrition emergency and imperative need for support in health, water, and education sectors. Over 1.5 million children require vital nutrition interventions, and massive damage to crucial infrastructure, like schools, health facilities, and water systems, continues to pose grave challenges for millions of Pakistanis, particularly in the hardest-hit regions of the country, according to a press release from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan.
Highlighting specific initiatives during his visit, Ambassador Blome inaugurated the 100th school under the Sindh Basic Education Program, an undertaking aimed to facilitate education for more than 80,000 students in 106 new, climate-resilient school buildings by 2024, all funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These schools, not only pivotal for education, also function as flood-resistant safe areas and platforms fostering parent and community involvement.
Moreover, U.S. aid has notably altered the means through which residents of Jacobabad gain access to safe drinking water, a cornerstone of the U.S. – Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework. A $36.7 million agreement with the Sindh Planning and Development Department has enhanced water, sanitation, and hygiene services for Jacobabad’s 300,000 inhabitants. The Ambassador inspected the Municipal Services Program Water Filtration Plant during his visit, which was finalized in 2020 as a component of a $24.4 million water filtration and delivery system project sponsored by USAID.
In the healthcare realm, Ambassador Blome visited the Basic Health Unit in Khairpur, a fundamental facility actively confronting Pakistan’s severe malnutrition emergency and enhancing lives and health outcomes in flood-impacted districts across Sindh. Through support from USAID, the unit provides Ready to Use Therapeutic Food, nutrition counselling, screening, and treatment to bolster the health of children under five years of age and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Furthermore, acknowledging that the 2022 floods significantly affected women and children, the Ambassador praised the commendable efforts of community midwives at the Sindh Rural Support Organization Office in Sukkur. To address urgent maternal health necessities, he provided U.S.-donated equipment and kits destined to establish 100 community midwives birth stations in Sindh, enhancing access to proximate, premium maternal health services.
The U.S. remains steadfast in its support for Pakistan and its susceptible communities during their recovery and rebuilding process. This encompasses endeavours to alleviate malnutrition, erect resilient educational facilities, elevate access to clean water and sanitation, and supply requisite equipment to assure improved health outcomes for women and children. Since 2022, the U.S. government has furnished more than $215 million in flood relief, disaster resilience, food security, and acute malnutrition assistance for Pakistan.