September 9, 2022 11:35
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Pakistan on Friday to support its response to devastating floods, and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and visit flooded areas on his two-day trip.
Seasonal rains and melting glaciers in northern mountains, both of which the government has blamed on climate change, have caused floods that swept away homes, roads, railways, bridges, livestock and crops, killing more than 1,391 people.
Vast areas of the country were inundated, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes, while disrupting the lives of nearly 33 million people, according to the government.
“I came to Pakistan to express my strong solidarity with the Pakistani people after the devastating floods,” Guterres said.
The United Nations has launched an appeal for $160 million in aid, although Pakistan estimates that the floods have caused losses of about $10 billion.
“I appeal to the international community to provide tremendous support as Pakistan grapples with this climate catastrophe,” Guterres said.
In addition to meeting Sharif and the foreign minister, Guterres will also tour the affected areas during his visit.
“The Secretary-General’s visit will raise global awareness of the enormous scale of this disaster and the resulting loss of life and widespread destruction,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The World Health Organization said more than 6.4 million people need humanitarian support in the flooded areas.
Source: agencies
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