US to provide additional USD 9.3 mn aid to Pak

The US on Tuesday said it will grant an additional USD 9.3 million aid to Pakistan to meet the health and livelihood needs of over a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan where a major military operation is underway against Taliban.

The funds will be provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US embassy said in a statement. The US government will provide USD 7 million to UNICEF to improve health, hygiene, water and sanitation services of IDPs with the remaining funds used for the health of livestock. US ambassador to Pakistan Richard G Olson said the US stood ready to help Pakistan prepare for and respond to the considerable humanitarian needs emerging in the tribal areas.