ISLAMABAD: As the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called for an international emergency humanitarian response following the massive devastation caused by unprecedented flooding in a third of Pakistan, relief consignments from Japan, from the United Arab Emirates, Unicef and Qatar arrived and handed over to federal and provincial authorities.
Unicef’s first humanitarian flight carrying relief for those affected by the floods landed at Karachi airport in the early hours of Sunday morning, while another plane carrying relief from Abu Dhabi landed at Lahore airport in the afternoon. The shipments were given to provincial ministers and representatives of the National Disaster Management Authority.
IOM Deputy Director General for Operations Ugochi Daniels said the main need for millions of affected people was shelter.
“The government reacted quickly, but the scale of this emergency is huge and the country needs support. We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, especially those in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, which have been most affected by these floods,” she said after her visit to Pakistan.
IOM calls for urgent global response to flood emergency
Ms Daniels said the scale of the disaster required a massive response. She said that with the collapse of the agricultural economy, there will be a need for major investments.
The Aga Khan pledges $10 million for those affected by the floods Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the Aga Khan’s son, has expressed his sadness at the loss of life and property in the devastating floods in Pakistan and pledged to donate $10 million to help flood-affected people in Pakistan.
The Aga Khan’s son made the promise during a conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prince Rahim was quoted as directing all Aga Khan Development Network organizations to participate in the flood relief and rehabilitation process.
In addition, relief goods including tents and plastic sheeting, donated by the Japanese government, reached Karachi and were handed over to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) by the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Kinoshita Yasumitsu, in the presence of the Japanese consul. -General in Karachi, Odagiri Toshio.
Japanese Consul General Odagiri said his government will continue to work closely with the Pakistani government, and the Japanese Embassy, Japanese Consulate General and JICA will cooperate to respond to the situation.
Jica Chief Representative Kinoshita said that with Jica’s partnership, the Pakistani government prepared its first disaster management plan in 2012, which is currently being revised for the next 10 years. He said Jica was committed to supporting the Pakistani government’s relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts with the motto “Building Back Better”.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Fund for Development distributed food parcels to 7,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Aid was provided to 3,500 beneficiaries in Charsadda and Nowshera, while another 3,500 beneficiaries received assistance in Loralai district in Balochistan. The dry food packets contained flour, vegetable oil, dates, rice, sugar, tea, salt and other necessary food items.
In the medical field, Doctors Worldwide, a UK-based NGO, has been working and coordinating with partners in Pakistan for two weeks for a targeted and needs-based response to those affected by the floods.
In order to ensure that aid reaches everyone and not just those visible “on the side of the road”, a widespread coordinated approach has been adopted by local NGOs with the army, the UN and other organizations.
The organization said it had supported 80 medical field camps in 10 districts to meet urgent health needs, with a focus on specialized medical camps and temporary clinics for mothers, babies and children.
Syed Irfan Raza also contributed to this report
Posted in Dawn, September 5, 2022
