Swiss government approves fresh aid to Pakistan for flood relief

Geneva, Sep 15 (EFE).- The Swiss government announced Thursday it will allocate the equivalent of three million euros ($3 million) to finance emergency humanitarian aid in Pakistan in the face of the historic floods that have affected one third of its territory.

It also reported having sent a specialized emergency team currently working on the rehabilitation of schools in the northwest of the country to facilitate the resumption of classes for some 900 children.

Another group of the same team is restoring drinking water supply lines for 5,000 people.

Around 80 percent of the recent sum approved by Switzerland in response to the emergency in Pakistan will be channeled through the International Organization for Migration, as a part of a request for funds launched by the UN.

The remaining amount will finance the work of the nonprofit Helvetas in providing access to water, the distribution of food and medicines.

According to latest official data from Pakistan, 33 million people have been affected by the disaster, which has claimed the lives of over 1,400 people.

The United Nations on Wednesday said that it had received around $38 million so far in aid from donors in response to an appeal for $160 million following unprecedented rains and flood that have wreaked havoc in the Asian country. EFE

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