The United Kingdom (UK) announced further assistance of £4.39 million to Pakistan in the fight against the coronavirus and to mitigate its impacts by providing aid for the most vulnerable, and boosting wider public health communications, the British High Commission said here Friday.
The latest £4.39 million package of support, it stated, will contribute to Pakistan's Humanitarian Pooled Fund (PHPF) to help provide comprehensive support to fight the coronavirus and help those impacted indirectly by the crisis.
This includes supporting emergency response systems and providing assistance towards food security, sanitation and hygiene, mental health and psychological support, it added.
The High Commission further stated that the package will also support Aawaz II, which aims to empower and protect women and children.
This joint programme from the UNICEF, the UNFPA and the UN Women will provide support to nearly 10,000 women and children who face violence in their own home through the Aawaz helplines staffed by men and women trained in the provision of psychosocial support and referral services.
The Aawaz programme will also reach nearly two million people with messages fighting against stigma and discrimination as a result of the coronavirus.
Additionally, it added that the package will support the "Khairkhwah" information campaign - which means "Well Wisher" - on TV and radio to reach up to 80 million people with messages on how to taking appropriate safety measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in communities, as well as tackling coronavirus misinformation.
This campaign will reach those living in rural and semi-urban areas who may otherwise struggle to get the latest information.
"Pakistan has shown international leadership in its response, balancing the need to keep healthy, with growing the economy and protecting the poorest. Friends must stand together at difficult times... Although we are socially distancing, we are not apart," said British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner in a video message.
"By supporting the poorest and most vulnerable people, especially those facing discrimination and by spreading information on how to protect against coronavirus, we can save lives. The UK is proud to support Pakistan, and through our investment in international vaccine research and the Global Vaccine Alliance, we will help end this pandemic sooner and prevent future waves of infection," Lord Ahmad, UK Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth was quoted by the High Commission as having said.
"The UK stands with you in these difficult times," he further stated. Head of Office for the UK's Department for International Development in Pakistan, Annabel Gerry, said: "It is increasingly important that we work together to help those who are the most vulnerable.
This is why I am proud that UK aid will be there for the women and children who face increased threats of violence and stigma in their own home and need access to these support services."