Islamabad: In June 2024, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided critical support to over 500,000 people in Pakistan through various programs focusing on emergency preparedness, nutrition, and economic empowerment, as part of its ongoing efforts to bolster resilience and improve livelihoods across the country.
According to United Nations World Food Programme, the agency has engaged in significant activities across multiple sectors. WFP’s collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) included emergency preparedness and contingency simulation exercises (SIMEX) in Peshawar and Quetta, preparing for the monsoon season with participation from over 150 officials. Furthermore, a European Union-funded project concluded successfully, directly benefiting over 97,000 people and indirectly aiding over 700,000, including women who gained through skills development leading to enhanced incomes.
In nutrition and health, the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program supported 33,100 moderately malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women and children in 11 districts across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. The Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP), a collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, continued to make strides in addressing malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, with 344,000 beneficiaries receiving specialized nutritious foods in June alone.
In response to the upcoming monsoon season, WFP has developed a Flood Contingency Plan and, along with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, initiated an Anticipatory Action pilot activity to prepare vulnerable communities along the Kabul River for potential flooding.
WFP’s efforts extend to educational support, with ongoing technical assistance for school meals and a scoping study completed in Gilgit-Baltistan to explore expansion possibilities. Additionally, WFP launched a “Value Chain Assessment for Fortified Wheat Flour from Farm Gates to Chakkis” to enhance supply chain capacities, benefiting smallholder farmers and local millers.