Pakistan floods: Government appeals for more help to aid 33M affected

 Pakistan on Saturday appealed to the international community for a "massive humanitarian response" to the unprecedented floods that have killed at least 1,265 people. This request was made while the planes were transporting the necessary materials to this poor country by humanitarian plane. Union Planning Minister Ehsan Iqbal called for "massive humanitarian aid to the 33 million people" affected by the monsoon rains, which caused massive floods. The international community's attention to Pakistan's plight increased as the number of dead and homeless increased. According to previous government estimates, the rains and floods caused $10 billion in damage. "The scale of the disaster is huge and requires massive humanitarian aid for 33 million people. To this end, I am asking my fellow Pakistanis, Pakistani immigrants and the international community to help Pakistan in this hour of need." According to the UN, many officials and experts believe that climate is the cause of unusual floods and monsoons. Earlier this week, he called the world, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, to stop "sleepwalking" into the deadly crisis. He will travel to Pakistan on September 9 to visit flood-affected areas and meet with Pakistani officials. Earlier this week, the United Nations and Pakistan jointly appealed for $160 million in emergency funding to help millions of people affected by floods that damaged more than a million homes. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said in its latest report on Saturday that another 57 people died in flood-hit areas. That brings the total number of people who have died since the onset of monsoon rains in mid-June to 1,265, including 441 children.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's plea for help prompted a swift response from the international community, which sent planes with humanitarian aid. A French plane carrying relief equipment landed in Islamabad on Saturday and was met by the Minister of National Health Abdul Qadir Patel.

The arrival of this French aircraft followed the ninth flight from the United Arab Emirates and the first flight from Uzbekistan. These flights are the last flights to land in Islamabad at night. Aid sent from France included medicine and large hydration pumps to lower the water level, Patel said. According to him, France also sent a group of doctors and specialists. Pakistan established a National Flood Relief and coordination center for the distribution of aid to the victims. Iqbal controls the military center. The foreign minister said, "This season, monsoon rains have passed in most parts of Balochistan and Sindh and some provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The Gilgit-Baltistan region has also been affected. Heavy rains and subsequent flooding caused extensive damage to infrastructure, roads, electricity and communication networks. Iqbal said that the government is trying to restore normalcy in the country as soon as possible, but the government of Pakistan cannot do it alone. Major General Zafar Iqbal, head of the flood relief center, said in a press conference that 29 flights from Turkey, United Arab Emirates, China and Qatar have arrived in Pakistan with relief aid in the last 4 days. , Uzbekistan, Jordan, Turkmenistan, etc.

 

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