Donald Blome, US Ambassador to Islamabad, revealed on Thursday that the US has given $273 million in aid for Afghan refugees and the communities that host them in Pakistan.
The fiscal year 2022 saw an additional $60 million added to this figure. The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to Pakistan for its hospitality towards the refugees throughout the last four decades, and said that the US is proud to continue its support. This assistance has gone towards increasing school enrollment for Afghan and Pakistani children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, improving healthcare services and nutrition programs, providing livelihood opportunities for refugees and their hosts, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. It has also been used to help those affected by Covid-19-related health and economic issues.
UNHCR representative Noriko Yoshida pointed out that the US support allowed them to respond quickly to the floods of 2022, and provide Pakistani and Afghan refugees with life-saving items. Abdullah Fadil, Unicef representative in Pakistan, thanked the US for their contribution, which enabled Unicef to make an impact on the lives of the refugees.
