ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday he was “deeply touched” by the Palestinian decision to send a rescue team to help the authorities in his country deal with the aftermath of the massive floods that have claimed more than 1,500 lives and displaced over 33 million people.
Pakistan has witnessed record monsoon rains since the beginning of the season in June that led to flash floods and destroyed houses, farmlands and public infrastructure in different parts of the country.
With the floodwater gradually receding, the country has started witnessing the outbreak of diseases like dengue, malaria and gastroenteritis that have brought the health care system under pressure in several areas of Sindh and southern Punjab.
The Palestinian team arrived in the country in the same context on Saturday to help flood-affected people.
“Deeply touched by Palestinians’ gesture of sending their Rapid Response & Rescue team to help flood victims in Pakistan,” the prime minister said in a Twitter post. “It is a reflection of a strong bond of love & brotherhood we have for each other. We will never forget this gesture. Grateful to President Mahmoud Abbas.”
The arrival of the Palestinian team to the country was announced by the foreign office of Pakistan which said its members would carry out “humanitarian relief mission” during its stay in the country.
It added that their presence in Pakistan would also serve the cause of expressing solidarity with the flood-hit families.
The rapid response and rescue team has experts from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and civil defense.
The PRCS is a humanitarian organization which was founded in 1968 and caters to the health and welfare of the Palestinian people and others.
It has 4,200 employees in West Bank and Gaza Strip along with Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iraq. In addition to that, it also has a network of over 20,000 volunteers.