THE UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution urging donor nations and institutions to provide full support to rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in flood affected areas of Pakistan.
The scaling calamities in Pakistan can linger for years.
Massive guidance and support to the Government of Pakistan are absolutely essential,” said UN Secretary General António Guterres, while speaking in favour of the resolution.
The way the UN and its agencies have come forward in support of and raising voice for the plight and difficulties of flood affected people is really commendable.
Ever since the devastation wreaked by the unprecedented floods has come to the fore, the UN Secretary General’s strong voice in support of Pakistan has really awakened the world to fulfil its responsibility vis-à-vis the flood victims.
Then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari through their interaction in New York on the occasion of UN General Assembly session also helped this cause that now countries are pouring in with the necessary relief assistance.
At a joint press conference along with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced an additional 10 million Euros in aid for emergency care and services for flood victims of Pakistan, especially for children.
The EU has also scaled up its assistance. This is really welcoming but this is not enough keeping in view the scale of the disaster and the loses inflicted by it.
After the floods, the victims are faced with another disaster in the form of water borne diseases.
The world community will have to demonstrate long-term commitment to rebuild the lives of affected population which in fact is a Herculean task — something Pakistan cannot do single-handedly.
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador while speaking in the UNGA very rightly stressed that countries like Pakistan which confront such climate-induced disasters should not be left to fend for themselves.
Apart from providing relief to Pakistan in loans, sufficient funds should be provided in grants to the country to rebuild a resilient and sustainable infrastructure that also averts future disasters.
Donor conference which is expected by year-end will demonstrate as to how the major countries deliver the justice in our case.
