United Nations representatives in Pakistan have expressed concern that the country’s efforts to recover from the recent floods were being hampered by a lack of funding.
The officials claimed that while $816 million in funds was required for Pakistan in order to address the problems experienced by flood victims across the country, only $2.623 million in donations had been received thus far, leaving a $553.7 million budget imbalance, they continued.
According to them, the recent flood in Pakistan could drive up to 9.1 million people below the poverty line, and additional money was needed to rehabilitate the affected people’s homes and restore their means of subsistence in various industries including agriculture and livestock throughout the winter.
The UN’s humanitarian coordinator, Julien Harneis, said that because the countries were already dealing with numerous difficulties such as difficult economic circumstances, energy issues, and others, the international community did not actively respond to the UN’s call.
“There is a chaotic situation in flood-affected areas where two hundred thousand people are homeless, the school remains inaccessible for two million people, risk of exploitation and violence against women and transgender mounting and rising inflation pose serious humanitarian crises in Pakistan,” he added.
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In order to ensure the rehabilitation of flood victims, he pleaded with the humanitarian partners and donors to continue providing relief by contributing additional money. He said that the current money would run out by January 15.
UNICEF’s Chief Field Operations Scott Whoolery said that the acute malnutrition of children under two years old and the severe shortage of food for breastfeeding mothers made the situation exceedingly alarming while calling for quick action.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the situation,”he said. “World community needs to come forward for the help of millions of children who need special attention,”.
Meanwhile, Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the UN has said that the “resilient reconstruction” of Pakistan’s flood-affected areas was his “top priority” and pledged the UN’s “full support” for ongoing humanitarian efforts in the nation.
The UN head made the declaration during a meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday in New York, which was held in conjunction with the G77 ministerial conference.
According to an official statement, Bilawal thanked the secretary general for his “solidarity” in providing massive assistance to Pakistan following the devastating floods in that nation and for calling for the international conference on a climate-resilient Pakistan to be held in Geneva on January 9, 2023.
In order to convince important funders, organizations that promote development, and the business sector to attend the conference and support Pakistan’s broad strategy and particular project ideas, the minister continued to ask the UN for assistance.
Guterres reaffirmed that the UN remains fully committed to providing ongoing humanitarian relief efforts as well as long-term recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, adding that his “top goal” was the conference’s success and Pakistan’s tenacious restoration.
The secretary-general also praised Pakistan for taking the timely initiative to call a special ministerial meeting of the G77 and China to formulate a coordinated and all-encompassing plan to address pressing issues facing developing nations.
This story was adapted from DailyTimes.
