The United Nations and the Pakistani government launched an urgent appeal of 160 million dollars on Tuesday to help the more than five million victims of the catastrophic floods that hit the country.
This economic aid should make it possible to finance an emergency plan for the next six months, in order to first provide basic services (health, food, drinking water and shelter) to the 5.2 million people most affected by these historic monsoon rains, said Jens. Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).
“The people of Pakistan urgently need solidarity and support,” he added. “The heavy rains will continue and with so many dams and rivers already full, it is likely to get worse.”
10 billion needed
The aid should also help prevent cholera epidemics, for example, and provide food aid to mothers and their young children, he added during the regular UN briefing in Geneva. The third part of this plan must provide assistance to refugees, the disabled and the elderly and establish a system that allows the reunification of families.
The United States, which traditionally helps the country, announced on Tuesday the shipment of additional aid worth thirty million dollars in food, water and hygiene kits.
Pakistan’s Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal told AFP on Tuesday that more than $10 billion will be needed to repair damage and rebuild flood-damaged infrastructure.
a lot of damage
The UN has already mobilized $7 million, including redirecting money from other programs, to fund the most urgent needs and another $3 million has been released through the UN Emergency Response Fund.
According to the WHO, 180 health facilities “have been totally damaged” and the organization warns of the health dangers inherent in floods, which go far beyond the risk of drowning, in particular unsafe water, but also the danger of electrocution.
UNHCR, the UN agency for refugees (who number in the millions in Pakistan), said it had already distributed aid to refugee camps and host communities to the tune of $1.5 million, including shelter, food , kitchen utensils, but also sandbags to protect homes.
Source: BFM TV
