The agreement was signed between the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and UNICEF. “This grant by the government of Saudi Arabia is for urgent support to maternal and child health care, nutrition services for children and pregnant women, and providing safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps,” said Mohamed Al-Arifi, head of the SFD delegation.

“The Saudi government has always shown its desire to provide financial assistance to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. This relief assistance comes under the Kingdom’s pledge of $100 million to IDPs,” he added.

In 2009, huge numbers of people were displaced as a result of militancy in Pakistan’s Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. Nearly three million people were displaced of which many still reside in camps and with host communities. The SFD grant will go toward UNICEF’s ongoing humanitarian assistance for people affected in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

“This generous donation by SFD will go a long way in helping UNICEF to continue to provide improved and expanded services in the areas of health, education, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene to women and children affected by militancy in north-western Pakistan,” said Daniel Toole, regional director for South Asia and special representative for UNICEF in Pakistan.

“Successive emergencies in Pakistan pose a greater challenge for humanitarian organizations and additional funds are needed for a sustained response. As we actively serve populations affected by the recent floods, we must not forget those who were already displaced and distressed due to the earlier emergency and may have taken a double blow,” he added.

UNICEF will use the Saudi funds for procuring school supplies, preventive and curative health services, provision of safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and restoration of damaged public sector schools and health centers.