ISLAMABAD: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a cash assistance program to support vulnerable households in Tharparkar, Umerkot, and Dadu districts.
This initiative, designed to help families cope with adverse climatic conditions and safeguard their livestock, comes in response to prolonged drought, rising temperatures, and the impact of El Niño on agriculture in these Sindh districts.
Under the program, the FAO has distributed cash in two instalments to 2,836 beneficiaries across the three districts. Specifically, 1,836 households received Rs40,000 each, while 1,000 subsistence herder households received Rs50,000 each, which included an additional Rs10,000 subsidy for animal feed.
The cash assistance serves a dual purpose: providing immediate relief for essential needs and alleviating the effects of severe drought and high temperatures on livelihoods. This two-phase distribution underscores the FAO’s commitment to enhancing the resilience of agricultural communities facing climate-related challenges. The program has received support from the European Union’s directorate for humanitarian aid operations.
This financial aid not only addresses immediate needs but also promotes the long-term sustainability of livestock-based livelihoods, which are crucial for the economic stability of these communities.
