OFID pledges $500,000 to flood-hit Pakistan

Vienna, Aug 7 (IANS/WAM) The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has approved a $500,000 emergency grant to flood-hit Pakistan.

The OFID grant will help people meet their emergency needs, including shelter, food and primary health care, it said in a statement Friday.

About 100,000 people, mostly children, have contracted cholera and other diseases due to widespread water contamination, the OFID said.

At least 1,600 people have died and millions of people have been affected in the region’s worst floods in 80 years. The northwestern provinces are the worst hit.

In addition, the flooding has damaged crops and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, health facilities and communication systems.

–IANS/WAM