Quetta – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarians Affairs (OCHA) have strengthened their collaboration by signing an exchange of letters as the UN continues to help Government respond to challenges posed by COVID-19 in Balochistan and all over Pakistan.

In the light of the current increase in humanitarian needs, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO and OCHA have jointly deployed a Humanitarian Affairs Officer to strengthen humanitarian coordination activities in Balochistan. This will further reinforce coordination mechanisms between the Government of Balochistan, the UN, NGOs and development partners.

The Humanitarian Affairs Officer is funded by Australian aid. The officer will be responsible to monitor the humanitarian risks, collect and communicate relevant data and information and liaise with humanitarian partners and government officials.  This collaboration will help strengthen system-wide preparedness and technical capacities to respond to humanitarian complex emergencies.

“The current humanitarian crisis due to COVID19 has severe health and socio-economic consequences, is affecting food availability and access and is impacting livelihoods. The preparation for the recovery phase, in an environment that has also recently suffered from drought then cold, which is also facing a locust threat, requires strong coordination to ensure well designed, integrated and timely delivered interventions for the benefit of the most vulnerable population. It is a responsibility to share the limited resources for maximum impact. We are all together in this. FAO is thankful for the support of Australian aid.” said Mina Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Pakistan.

“The world will get through this crisis, but only if we act together, in solidarity. This virus is a threat to all of humanity, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or faith. OCHA values the generous contribution from Australian aid and FAO, It will enable the UN to provide a coordinated multi-agency, multi-sectoral response to provincial actions in order to address the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and enable rapid recovery,” said Tanvir Ahmed Khan, Head of Office a.i., OCHA.