ISLAMABAD: Colossal scale of devastation across various parts of country brought about by unprecedented climate catastrophe has affected more than 33 million people. 

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson in his weekly press briefing said continuing loss of lives and livelihoods and massive damage to property and infrastructure are indicative of this evolving humanitarian situation we are faced with.

After Sindh and Balochistan, you have seen destruction caused in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan in recent days. Over 1,100 people including over 350 children have lost their lives, more than 1,600 people have been injured, over a million houses have been partially or fully damaged or destroyed, entire villages have been wiped out, over 735,000 livestock have perished and over 2 million acres of crops have been lost, besides severe damage to communications infrastructure.

Government has mounted coordinated rescue and relief operations mobilising all possible resources and capacities. This is a national effort in which everyone is contributing from individual Pakistanis from all spheres of life, to businesses, civil society and humanitarian organisations, besides civil and military administrations. Overseas Pakistanis are also contributing to this effort in a big way.

To further raise global awareness and mobilise support, on August 30, Pakistan together with United Nations, launched Flash Appeal “2022 Pakistan Floods Response Plan (FRP)” simultaneously from Islamabad and Geneva. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed launch event, followed by a video message from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and statements from Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan Julien Harneis, UN High Commissioner for Refugees and IFRC. Chairman NDMA Lt. Gen. Akhtar Nawaz also briefed participants on situation in aftermath of floods. As one of lowest contributors to global carbon footprint yet amongst most vulnerable, Pakistan has borne brunt of climate shocks in recent years.  While we are in relief phase right now, there will be this important transition to reconstruction and rehabilitation phase, which, given mega scale of this disaster, will require continued, sustained and substantial support of international community.  

A large number of countries and international organisations have pledged support and are extending cash or in-kind assistance including Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, EU, France, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, and other UN Agencies. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 02 2022

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