The Government of Pakistan and the United Nations jointly launched the “Pakistan Floods Response Plan 2022” on August 30 simultaneously in Islamabad and Geneva.
UN and Pakistan issued an appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to help millions affected by devastating floods that have killed more than 1,160 people since mid-June.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Pakistan’s flooding, caused by weeks of unprecedented monsoon rains, were a signal to the world to step up action against climate change.
“Let’s stop sleepwalking toward the destruction of our planet by climate change,” he said in a video message to an Islamabad ceremony launching the funding appeal. “Today, it’s Pakistan. Tomorrow, it could be your country.”
Guterres will visit Pakistan on September 9 to meet the flood victims and also witness how UN and humanitarian partners are working to support the government’s relief efforts and provide assistance to millions of people.
Addressing the press stakeout in Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the floods response plan 2022 launched in the backdrop of devastating rains, floods and landslides that have impacted more than 33 million people across Pakistan.
Over 1,100 people including over 350 children have lost their lives, more than 1,600 people have been injured, over two million houses have been damaged, more than 735,000 livestock have perished and two million acres of crops have been adversely impacted, besides severe damage to communications infrastructure, he said.
The Foreign Minister said the appeal focuses on the needs of 5.2 million people, with life-saving response activities amounting to 160.3 million dollars covering food security, assistance for agriculture and livestock, shelter and non-food items, nutrition programmes, primary health services, protection, water and sanitation, women’s health, and education support, as well as shelter for displaced people.
