ISLAMABAD: A sixth grader, Habiba Shahid, who lost her father in a bomb blast a couple of years bacl< said following the incident she was unable to continue education but USAID helped them continue their studies.

`A deadly blast in Mardan snatched my father from us.

Following his death, my mother was very much worried about our education but timely support of USAID helped us in rebuilding our life,` she said here on Tuesday.

She was sharing her experience at a ceremony organised by USAID to commemorate the achievements of its sponsored Civilian Victim Support Programme (CVSP).

`They (USAID) provided scholarships to me and my sisters that helped us continue our education.

Similarly, they helped my mother in setting up small business of cloths,` Habiba said.

`I lost my husband to a bomb blast in 2013,` said Aalya Shaheen, a 30-year old mother of four from Peshawar.

`I was extremely worried about army children. USAID helped me to establish a small business and also provided educational scholarships to my children. Our loss is eternal, but USAID provided us with a respectable livelihood. I am now independent and my children`s education continues.

Like Aalya, a resident of Fata Fazal-e-Hadi also appreciated USAID for extending support to marginalised peopie of Fata and KPK.

Speaking at the ceremony, USAID Senior Deputy Mission Director Nancy Estates acknowledged the courage and determination of women of Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), who have suffered from terrorism.

Ms. Estes said that the US was stood by the people of affected areas in their trying time.

`USAID is providing relief and support to the affected families in the form of prosthetics to the injured, job preparation training, and small grants to support entrepreneurs,` she said and added the resilience of communities and families affected by acts of terror is truly inspiring.