WFP sends biscuits for Pak quake victims

WFP-chartered aircraft started flying the biscuits on Tuesday from Dhaka to Peshawar in northern Pakistan, said a press release yesterday.

"We are very happy to be able to contribute to the critical relief operations in Pakistan," said Edward Kallon, WFP Bangladesh Deputy Country Director.

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"The response to this disaster has transcended boundaries of all sorts, and we hope that our contribution will be helpful for the earthquake survivors," he added.

"With the support of the Government of Bangladesh, WFP has been able to quickly organise and airlift these biscuits for distribution among the earthquake victims," said Kallon.

He observed that the ready-to-eat biscuits are ideal for use in disasters where water supplies and other infrastructure are disrupted.

Transport of the biscuits to Peshawar will continue for next three days. The biscuits, which are easily transportable, are intended to meet immediate nutritional needs in some of the hardest-to-reach and worst-affected areas of Pakistan.

The High Energy Biscuits have been released from WFP's existing stocks in Bangladesh that are used for school feeding programmes in the country.

The biscuits, which are produced in Bangladesh, will be replaced through new production without causing any disruption of WFP's school feeding programmes.