Technology

EU announces €350,000 as Pakistan urges flood aid

EU announces €350,000 as Pakistan urges flood aid

The European Union (EU) on Thursday announced to provide €350,000 to assist flood victims as Pakistan urged development partners and the international community to extend broad-based support.

Taking to Twitter, Pakistan’s Ambassador to EU Asad Majeed Khan shared details of the funds being provided by the European Union and said that the EU has announced the immediate provision of €350,000 for the flood-affected population through its urgent response mechanism.

“Given the epic scale of the disaster all such contributions are a source of great relief for affected populations,” the ambassador said.

He also shared a press release from the EU which highlighted that the aid will focus on addressing the urgent needs of those most affected in some of the hardest-hit districts of Jhal Magsi and Lasbella in Balochistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is facing some of the worst floods which have affected all four provinces in the country, displacing millions from their homes.

Miftah urges development partners’ support

Finance Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail urged all the development partners to extend broad-based support and assistance to Pakistan for the flood-affected people.

Miftah also highlighted various reform initiatives introduced by the present government for the social uplift of the masses during a meeting with Princess of Jordon Sarah Zeid Raád, who called on him, said the Finance Division.

READ THIS

Pakistan expected to sell shares of Roosevelt Hotel to Qatar

Saudi Arabia to invest $1 billion in Pakistan

He especially apprised the princess of the financial relief provided by the government to the women through the Benazir Income Support Programme and the cash relief announced for the flood victims.

The minister thanked the World Food Programme (WFP) for their continued support to Pakistan by providing humanitarian assistance.

Representative and Country Director- WFP Chris Kaye, Head of Nutrition-WFP Mahamadou Tanimoune, secretary of finance and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Princess Sarah Zeid highlighted WFP’s various interventions in diverse sectors in Pakistan and appreciated the constant support and assistance at the federal and provincial levels in the country.

She further extended her assistance in a number of areas, including humanitarian aid, food and nutritional needs, financing poverty alleviation, women’s development etc.

‘Situation is further deteriorating’

On the other hand, while addressing a press conference, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman has urged the international community to come forward in providing assistance to the around 30 million flood-affected people of Pakistan as the situation is further deteriorating in Balochistan, Sothern Punjab and Sindh.

“Pakistan has received unprecedented rainfall during this monsoon,” she said, adding that overall the country received 241 per cent more rains this month.

Sharing data of all provinces, Sherry Rehman said Balochistan received 496 per cent additional rains, Sindh 784 per cent, Punjab 56 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 33 per cent and Gilgit Baltistan witnessed 172 per cent more downpour.

The Climate minister noted that over 900 people have died in incidents related to rains and floods across the country.

“This data is alarming and the flood situation is further deteriorating with every passing day,” she said, urging the international community to come forward in providing assistance to the flood victims.

Sherry Rehman added that the government was making all-out efforts to rescue people and provide them relief assistance. She said heavy machinery is being used for dewatering inundated areas.

It is pertinent to mention here that heavy rains triggered flash floods and wreaked havoc across much of Pakistan since mid-June, leaving 903 dead and about 0.5 million people homeless.

Taking to Twitter, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman shared that the highest number of deaths and injuries during the time period was recorded in Sindh and Balochistan.

“Since June, 903 people, including 326 children and 191 women, have died in various incidents of monsoon rains and floods.”

Related posts