ISLAMABAD: Multiple ships carrying food and other aid supplies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday docked at the harbor in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, the UAE embassy said.
Unprecedented monsoon rains and floods have killed at least 1,725 people, affected 33 million and cost Pakistan more than $30 billion since mid-June.
The UAE has been at the forefront of multi-lateral efforts to bolster humanitarian response to help victims of the devastating floods. The Gulf nation has so far sent more than 41 flights, which brought urgently needed relief goods and medical supplies to Pakistan.
“H.E Hamad Obaid Alzaabi, the UAE Ambassador to Islamabad, along with H.E Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, attend in Karachi port reception of UAE aid ships carrying 200 food and medical containers to support 500,000 Pakistani families affected by floods,” the UAE embassy in Pakistan said on Friday.
Ambassador Al-Zaabi said the UAE was committed to stand by Pakistan and its people in the current situation.
Pakistan will on October 24 release a Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report quantifying exact physical damages and economic losses from recent floods as well as the costs of meeting recovery needs.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (R) and UAE's ambassador to Islamabad Hamad Obaid Alzaabi pictured at the event of receiving aid from UAE for flood-affected people of Pakistan at Karachi port on October 21, 2022. (UAE Embassy Twitter)
Bhutto-Zardari thanked the UAE for its generous assistance even when the rains had not yet stopped and no one had an idea of the damage caused.
He noted that the Gulf country established an air bridge and sent aid supplies to Pakistan from all over the world free of charge.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addresses the event of receiving aid from UAE for flood-affected people of Pakistan at Karachi port on October 21, 2022. (UAE Embassy Twitter)
“Even today, a large number of victims are facing difficulties and problems in the flood affected areas,” Bhutto-Zardari was quoted as saying by his party.
“After the ongoing survey to estimate the damage caused by the flood, the government will talk to international organizations and countries, Pakistan has friendly ties with, so that rehabilitation work can be started in the affected areas.”
