a press conference August 6, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator asked for
international assistance for his country, Pakistan, to help 4 million
people affected by the worst flooding in 80 years.
“It’s very urgent
that this gets released,” Martin Mogwanja said, explaining how
additional funds would pay for emergency food, health care, clean water,
sanitation and shelter over 90 days, as well as community restoration,
agricultural protection and logistical support for damaged transport
infrastructure.
additional funds would pay for emergency food, health care, clean water,
sanitation and shelter over 90 days, as well as community restoration,
agricultural protection and logistical support for damaged transport
infrastructure.
The situation has created desperate circumstances for the people of Pakistan, Mogwanja explained.
The UN
Secretary-General has already authorized $10 million from the Central
Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for Pakistan, Mr. Mogwanja said. But
that money, plus the $9.8 million received by the Organization’s local
emergency relief fund and the $16 million given to its agencies on the
ground, was not enough to mitigate the crisis spanning four of the
country’s largest provinces.
Secretary-General has already authorized $10 million from the Central
Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for Pakistan, Mr. Mogwanja said. But
that money, plus the $9.8 million received by the Organization’s local
emergency relief fund and the $16 million given to its agencies on the
ground, was not enough to mitigate the crisis spanning four of the
country’s largest provinces.
United Nations contingency funds are already running out, he explained.
Mogwanja told
UN officials the deadly floods, triggered by monsoon rains, had spread
throughout much of Pakistan, destroying or badly damaging 250,000 homes
and rendering 1.5 million people homeless.
UN officials the deadly floods, triggered by monsoon rains, had spread
throughout much of Pakistan, destroying or badly damaging 250,000 homes
and rendering 1.5 million people homeless.
More flooding is expected.
An estimated
1,400 people are dead, but that figure could rise as new bodies are
found. The disaster is considered to be “on a par” with the 2005
Kashmir earthquake in terms of the number of people needing assistance
and damage to infrastructure.
1,400 people are dead, but that figure could rise as new bodies are
found. The disaster is considered to be “on a par” with the 2005
Kashmir earthquake in terms of the number of people needing assistance
and damage to infrastructure.
The on-the-ground
response effort, led by the Pakistani Government’s National Disaster
Management Authority, had already evacuated by boat or helicopter more
than 50,000 people trapped on rooftops, in buildings and on small
islands, he said. The United Nations had dispatched assessment response
teams in the affected south-west provinces.
response effort, led by the Pakistani Government’s National Disaster
Management Authority, had already evacuated by boat or helicopter more
than 50,000 people trapped on rooftops, in buildings and on small
islands, he said. The United Nations had dispatched assessment response
teams in the affected south-west provinces.
“At this stage,
urgent relief is required for the hundreds of thousands of people who
are displaced and are taking shelter in school classrooms and any kind
of Government building which is available,” Mr. Mogwanja said.
urgent relief is required for the hundreds of thousands of people who
are displaced and are taking shelter in school classrooms and any kind
of Government building which is available,” Mr. Mogwanja said.
People are running out of basic supplies.
Mogwanja
reiterated the desperate need of his country by saying, "The top
priority to provide shelter and non-food items that include cooking
sets, buckets, blankets and hygiene kits as well as food, clean water,
sanitation and good health care in case of an outbreak of waterborne
diseases."
reiterated the desperate need of his country by saying, "The top
priority to provide shelter and non-food items that include cooking
sets, buckets, blankets and hygiene kits as well as food, clean water,
sanitation and good health care in case of an outbreak of waterborne
diseases."
Asked why he
believed 4 million people had been affected when others had put the
figure at 12 million, Mr. Mogwanja said his estimates were based on data
from Pakistan’s provincial disaster management authorities. The number
could rise if floods moving south along the Indus River caused more
embankments to break in southern Sindh province.
believed 4 million people had been affected when others had put the
figure at 12 million, Mr. Mogwanja said his estimates were based on data
from Pakistan’s provincial disaster management authorities. The number
could rise if floods moving south along the Indus River caused more
embankments to break in southern Sindh province.
Mogwanja gave the
details of what Pakistan presently faces during the terrible flooding.
$150 million to $200 million for relief and recovery efforts would
likely be needed in the coming weeks and months, and possibly more if
the impact of flooding was severe in south Sindh. The cost of repairing
damaged infrastructure, particularly vital irrigation systems for rural
farmers, could reach $1 billion.
details of what Pakistan presently faces during the terrible flooding.
$150 million to $200 million for relief and recovery efforts would
likely be needed in the coming weeks and months, and possibly more if
the impact of flooding was severe in south Sindh. The cost of repairing
damaged infrastructure, particularly vital irrigation systems for rural
farmers, could reach $1 billion.
In Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province alone, 80 per cent of the water systems were now
polluted with silt and other runoff, Mr. Mogwanja said.
Pakhtunkhwa province alone, 80 per cent of the water systems were now
polluted with silt and other runoff, Mr. Mogwanja said.
Aid from
international organizations has only reached an estimated 30 to 40 per
cent of the population; many people had yet to receive adequate food,
clean water and shelter. 154,000 villagers were isolated when 66
bridges were destroyed.
international organizations has only reached an estimated 30 to 40 per
cent of the population; many people had yet to receive adequate food,
clean water and shelter. 154,000 villagers were isolated when 66
bridges were destroyed.
Relief agencies have been using helicopters to distribute food.
Water-logged terrain has prevented people from burying the dead.
On the number of
missing persons, he said there was no reliable estimate, because not all
affected areas had been accessed and many families had been separated,
making it difficult to know who was alive. Relief workers were trying
to find the parents of young children separated from their families.
missing persons, he said there was no reliable estimate, because not all
affected areas had been accessed and many families had been separated,
making it difficult to know who was alive. Relief workers were trying
to find the parents of young children separated from their families.
Asked when
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari would return to the country, Mr.
Mogwanja said he did not know. He also declined to comment on the
President’s absence.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari would return to the country, Mr.
Mogwanja said he did not know. He also declined to comment on the
President’s absence.
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