New Delhi: The government of Pakistan on Tuesday decided to launch an international appeal for help from the rich countries as a massive flood in the country affected thousands of people and killed 830 so far. The government’s decision comes in the view of rehabilitation of flood-hit people and restoration of damaged infrastructure.
According to the media report, over 1350 were injured in a natural disaster and rendered thousands of people across the country homeless.
This decision was taken during an urgent briefing on the flood emergency in Pakistan by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which was summoned to reassess the damage done by floods and to apprise the development partners and donors of the magnitude of the crisis.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan – Shehzad Sharif urged the countries to donate hundreds of billions to help flood-hit people.
Pakistan Prime Minister in a video said, “The current relief operation needs Rs 80 billion and hundreds of billions of rupees also required to overcome the losses as well as for rehabilitation of the victims,”
Sharing details about the relief announced by the government, the premier said the government was distributing Rs37.2 billion as cash relief whereas funds to the tune of Rs5 billion had “immediately” been released to the NDMA to accelerate the rescue efforts.
PM Sharif said Rs25,000 cash assistance was being paid to the flood victims. Similarly, the government would also provide compensation of Rs1 million to the families of the deceased, along with additional support for the injured and damages caused to the houses, he added.
Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman called for immediate humanitarian and rescue efforts in the wake of devastating floods as she admitted Pakistan was not able to cope with the situation on its own.
Rehman added the provincial and federal governments were incapable of dealing with the situation given the magnitude of the disaster and urged international partners to mobilize assistance. “The Indus is in high floods where the flow of over 600,000 cusecs is expected to cross Guddu and then Sukkur barrages on August 23 and 24, which will bring all the katcha area along the Indus under water, displacing thousands of families.”
At least 216 lives have been lost, an estimated 1,500,000 mud houses have been damaged and crops cultivated on 1,989, 868 acres have been destroyed in Sindh, the senator added while sharing details about the damages.
Meanwhile, the European Union agreed to provide Rs76 million for crucial humanitarian assistance which will focus on addressing the urgent needs of those most affected in some of the hardest-hit districts of Jhal Magsi and Lasbela.
“The devastating floods have left a trail of destruction in Pakistan, causing many to suffer the loss of their homes, livelihoods, and belongings,” said Taheeni Thammannagoda, who oversees EU humanitarian programs in Pakistan. “The EU funding will help get vital assistance to the most vulnerable people to support them during this hard time,” a press release by the EU mission in Islamabad added.
(Vinayak)
