Islamabad, September 3 (BNA) Pakistan today appealed to the international community for a “massive humanitarian response” to the unprecedented floods that left at least 1,265 dead.
The request came even as planes carried supplies to the impoverished country via a humanitarian air bridge, the Associated Press reported.
Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for a “massive humanitarian response for the 33 million people” affected by the monsoon rains that triggered devastating floods.
International attention to Pakistan’s plight has increased as the number of dead and displaced has risen.
According to preliminary government estimates, rains and floods caused $10 billion in losses.
“The scale of the devastation is enormous and requires a massive humanitarian response for 33 million people. That is why I appeal to my fellow Pakistanis, the Pakistani expatriates and the international community to help Pakistan in this hour of need.
Climate change has been blamed on climate change by many officials and experts, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who earlier this week called on the world to stop “sleepwalking” during the deadly crisis.
He will visit Pakistan on September 9 to tour the flood-affected areas and meet with officials.
Earlier this week, the United Nations and Pakistan jointly issued an appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to help millions of people affected by floods that destroyed more than a million homes.
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, in its latest report on Saturday, counted another 57 deaths from flood-affected areas. This brings the total number of deaths since the monsoon began in mid-June to 1,265, including 441 children.
Former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s plea for help received a quick response from the international community, which sent planes loaded with relief items.
A French plane carrying relief items landed in Islamabad on Saturday and was received by National Health Services Minister Abdul Qadir Patel.
The arrival of that French plane came after the ninth flight from the Emirates and the first from Uzbekistan. Those flights were the latest to land in Islamabad during the night.
Patel said the relief items sent by France include medicines and large dewatering pumps to lower water levels. He said France also sent a team of doctors and experts.
Pakistan has established a National Flood Response and Coordination Center to distribute aid to the affected population. Iqbal oversees the center led by the army.
The minister said that monsoon rains this season have hit most of Balochistan and Sindh provinces as well as parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. Gilgit-Baltistan was also affected.
Heavy rains and subsequent flooding caused extensive damage to infrastructure, roads, electricity and communication networks.
Iqbal said the government is working to restore normalcy to the country as soon as possible, but the Pakistani government cannot do it alone.
Major General Zafar Iqbal, head of the Flood Response Center, who has nothing to do with the Minister of Planning, said at the press conference that during the past four days, 29 planes loaded with relief items arrived in Pakistan from Turkey, the UAE, China and Qatar. Uzbekistan, Jordan, Turkmenistan and other countries.
Army spokesman Major-General Iftikhar Babar said that the rescuers, backed by the army, are continuing their rescue and relief operations. He said that the army, air force and navy planes are using boats and helicopters to evacuate people from remote areas and to deliver aid.
Babar said the army has set up 147 relief camps to house and feed more than 50,000 displaced people, while 250 medical camps have provided assistance to 83,000 people so far.
Health officials have expressed concern about the spread of water-borne diseases among the homeless living in relief camps and in tents along the roads.
Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz, head of the Disaster Management Authority, said regions of the country expecting to receive 15%-20% additional rain this year have already received more than 400%. Collectively, the country experienced a 190% increase in rainfall during the monsoon season.
The US Army’s Central Command said it would send an assessment team to Islamabad to see what support it could provide. The United States announced $30 million in aid for flood victims earlier this week.
Congressmen Sheila Jackson and Tom Suzy are expected to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday to visit the flood-affected areas and meet with officials.