GENEVA: United Nations (UN) made a flash appeal for $ 160 million to help Pakistan cope with catastrophic floods that have killed more than 1,100 people, destroyed infrastructure and cropsand affected 33 million people. Early estimates put damage from floods at more than $ 10 billion, government has said, adding that world had an obligation to help country cope with effects of man-made climate change.

"Pakistan is awash in suffering," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video message for launch of appeal in Islamabad and Geneva. "Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids, relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding." Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also spoke, urging nations to extend their support to Pakistan in these challenging times. He said devastation witnessed in Pakistan following recent spell of unprecedented rains and floods showed that country had become "ground zero" of global warming, "biggest existential threat" of this century. "Current cycle of super flooding we see today is part of extreme weather patterns. Unprecedented levels of cloud bursts and torrential rains have triggered widespread devastation, urban flooding, river floods and landslides, resulting in loss of human life, livelihoods and livestock," Bilawal said.

He described this year's "super floods" as a "climate calamity", adding that "what we are facing today has been no above average monsoon. "It is an entirely new level of climate-led catastrophe." Rainfall in Pakistan since mid-June had been equivalent to three times 30-year national average and southern, central and northern regions of country were worst affected. He said it was feared scale of destruction caused by this year's floods would exceed impact of 2010's "mega or super floods". He said 72 districts were declared calamity-hit, over 33 million people were affected, which is size of a small country, over 1,000 people had lost their lives and several others were grappling with loss of livelihoods and displacement. "Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and forced to spend days and nights under a merciless sky and lack of access to food, water and shelter are making life harder with each passing day," he lamented. He said flood had taken a toll on economy and stretched country's resources. He said government was cognisant of its responsibility and had earmarked $ 173 million to help flood-hit people through direct cash transfers. This would be disbursed through Benazir Income Support Programme to 1.5 million families who will each receive Rs 25,000 ($115) in immediate cash relief. Separately, Rs 5 billion ($23 million) had been allocated to National Disaster Management Authority for relief activities, he added.

"The government is also providing Rs 1 million ($4,615) in ex-gratia compensation to next of kin of each deceased; Rs 250,000 ($1,154) for injuries and partially damaged housesand Rs 500,000 ($2,308) for destroyed houses." Pakistan needs '$ 10 billion' for repair and rehabilitation. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 31 2022

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