UNITED NATIONS, Sept 1 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Pakistani people are facing “a monsoon on steroids,” UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said, calling on the international community to take urgent action, to help the government and people of Pakistan in their hour of need.
“Pakistan is awash in suffering. The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids – the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding,” the UN chief said, in a video message, on the launch of flash appeal in support of flood response for Pakistan.
The climate catastrophe has killed more than 1,000 people, with many more injured. Millions are homeless, schools and health facilities are destroyed, livelihoods are shattered, critical infrastructure wiped out, and people’s hopes and dreams have washed away, Guterres said.
The government of Pakistan has released funds, including immediate cash relief, in response to the devastation, “but the scale of needs is rising like the flood waters. It requires the world’s collective and prioritised attention,” he noted.
The United Nations, on Tuesday, issued flash appeal for 160 million U.S. dollars to help Pakistan deal with the devastating flooding. Guterres said, the funds will provide 5.2 million people with food, water, sanitation, emergency education, protection and health support.
South Asia is one of the world’s global climate crisis hotspots. People living in these hotspots are 15 times more likely to die from climate impacts, he pointed out.
“Today, it’s Pakistan. Tomorrow, it could be your country,” he warned.
