KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister  Murad Ali Shah in meeting with US delegation led by Counselor of US Department of State Derek Chollet said that unprecedented heavy rains and hill torrents have created a first ever serious humanitarian crisis in province that has affected 10.48 million people of them 600,000 have been shifted to camps.

Sindh ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Shah, Murtaza Wahab, Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput and secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh attended meeting. CM informed guest that normally province received 60 mm in July, but we received 245 mm- means 307 percent more rainfall. “In August against 57 mm normal rains we received 344 mm means 517 percent more rainfall,” he said.

Talking about losses he said that over 600 people have died, 9,000 injured, 118,828 cattle perished, 10. 48 million population affected, 6.28 displaced, 576,121 shifted to 1,732 relief camps. Some 1.54 million houses have been damaged and 3.27 million acre crops damaged. Counselor Derek Chollet offered condolence to families of those who have lost their loved ones in devastating floods. He reaffirmed that United States remains steadfast in support for affected communities of Pakistan.

Counselor Derek said that United States was closely following flood situation in Sindh and other parts of country. We have committed $ 30 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to support people and communities that have been affected by severe flooding in country,” he said. Derek said that overall US grants came to 53.1 million for Pakistan. Meanwhile, Ambassador of Qatar in Pakistan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in his meeting with Sindh Chief Minister offered condolences over loss of lives in recent rains and assured him of his State’s full support in providing logistics and relief goods. CM told diplomat that his government was in a dire need of tents which he wanted to procure from a nearby country, said a statement.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 10 2022

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