Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The Coca-Cola Foundation, the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, has awarded a grant of USD 300,000 to provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons impacted by the recent crisis in Afghanistan. This relief is awarded to USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with a specific focus on women and children. According to UNHCR, the impact of the conflict on women and girls has been particularly devastating – almost 80 percent of newly displaced Afghans are women and children.
“This is a multi-faceted crisis disproportionately affecting women and girls,” said Saadia Madsbjerg, president, The Coca-Cola Foundation. “We hope this grant will be meaningful in providing displaced Afghan families in Pakistan with critical support.”
The support by The Coca-Cola Foundation provides immediate assistance for Afghans seeking safety in Pakistan. UNHCR’s activities in Pakistan support ongoing efforts with the government who has for decades generously hosted and provided protection to Afghan refugees. UNHCR will use the grant funding to provide over 3,000 displaced individuals, shelter and core relief items – including tents, thermal blankets for the upcoming harsh winter, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, cooking sets, jerry cans, buckets, solar lamps and hygiene products to address maternal and child health needs.
“I am so pleased The Coca-Cola Foundation has continued its enduring commitment to women and girls at this critically important time. Humanitarian aid is not simply the delivery of lifesaving care, it is an investment in the future of individuals, of local communities and in our shared global humanity.” – Anne-Marie Grey, USA for UNHCR Executive Director and CEO.
The Coca-Cola Foundation chose to work with UNHCR because the organisation is engaging with the host government at all levels to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to Afghan refugees.
Although this is not the first humanitarian relief grant by The Foundation to the region, this funding is now focusing on the displaced Afghans for the first time.
Since the start of the year, UNHCR has provided lifesaving support to some 332,000 newly internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country, with some 115,000 assisted from the start of August to 7 September.
Including this grant to USA for UNHCR, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded grants totaling USD 1 million to nonprofit organizations providing relief to communities impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
