ISLAMABAD: The United Nation’s Humanitarian Coordinator Timo Pakkala
appealed to the international community for emergency help of $ 375
million for the people of Pakistan severely hit by the recent floods.
He
said this while he was addressing a press conference along with Federal
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan here
on Sunday.
Timo Pakkala, United Nation’s Humanitarian
Coordinator on Sunday said that the people of Pakistan are
unfortunately once again passing through great hardship due to
unexpected and unprecedented heavy monsoon rains and resultant floods
that have hit the entire Province of Sindh as well as few areas of the
Province of Balochistan.
At least 260 million women and 200
million children have been badly affected due to heavy floods in Sindh
and Balochistan provinces.
Pakistan is a country prone to hydro
metrological disasters; however, the frequency and intensity of such
disasters have increased in the recent past, primarily due to climate
change phenomenon experienced all over the world. We are faced with a
gradual but fast change in the monsoon pattern.
In order to
cope with disasters, a well placed three tier disaster management
system consisting of district, provincial & national disaster
management authorities has been evolved by the Government of Pakistan.
The
National Disaster Management Authority, based on technical data and
Pakistan Metrological Department’s seasonal forecast, prepares monsoon
contingency plan in consultation with all relevant stakeholders
particularly provincial and district government authorities, through a
bottom up approach every year.
The unprecedented heavy rainfall affected 23 districts of the Province of Sindh and 05 districts of Province of Balochistan.
The
situation further compounded due to a number of breaches in all
irrigation channels and Left Bank Out Fall Drain. The rain water
inundated most parts of district Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando
Allah Yar, Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Banizarabad, Umerkot, & Sanghar.
Meanwhile,
Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan assured the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and the
International Community for transparent transfer of funds and financial
assistance to the flood affectees. Online
