ISLAMABAD: The United Nations secretary general’s spokesperson on Tuesday said officials of the world body in Pakistan were stepping up relief activities to help flood victims as the South Asian state is likely to witness more rainfall in the coming days.
Last week, Pakistan announced “monsoon emergency” after various regions of the country were lashed by heavy rains and witnessed flash floods that claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed infrastructure.
According to the official statistics compiled by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 573 people have lost their lives in rains since the beginning of the monsoon season in mid-June.
“The UN team in Pakistan, led by Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Julien Harneis, is stepping up its response efforts to assist millions of people impacted by recent flooding, following the [Pakistan] authorities’ recent official request for assistance,” Stephane Dujarric, the secretary general’s spokesperson, said during a press briefing at UN headquarters.
He informed the UN humanitarian coordinator for Pakistan also visited the flooded areas last week and met with officials and impacted people.
“In addition to the UN’s rapid needs assessment, the World Food Program is providing cash to affected communities, along with mother and child nutrition projects, while the World Health Organization is providing medicines, mosquito [nets] and blankets.”
According to Pakistan’s meteorological department, different parts of Pakistan are expected to witness more rains from Wednesday. It also warned about possible floods in several areas, including the southwestern Balochistan province and Karachi city.
The Pakistan army and other government agencies have set up aid and relief camps in flood-affected regions where many families have also been relocated to safer places.
The country also witnessed heavy rains and floods in 2010 which affected the lives of nearly 20 million in Pakistan.
The damage to the national infrastructure back then ran into billions of dollars. Huge swathes of crops were also destroyed as one-fifth of the country was inundated.
