UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world on Friday to help Pakistan, which has been hit by unprecedented floods that have killed hundreds and displaced more than half a million people.
“I came to Pakistan to express my deep solidarity with the Pakistani people after the devastating floods that occurred here. I call for massive support from the international community as Pakistan responds to this climate catastrophe,” the Portuguese said on Twitter.
Guterres arrived in Pakistan on Friday, being greeted upon arrival by Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. The UN leader will meet Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other government and military officials during the visit.
The trip comes less than two weeks after Guterres asked for $160 million in emergency funds.
Monsoon rains and flooding caused at least $10 billion in damage and 1,391 deaths, affecting more than 3.3 million people, some of whom are currently living in tents.
So far, United Nations agencies and several countries have sent dozens of planes full of aid. The United States has promised to provide assistance to the victims of the floods worth 30 million dollars (29.78 million euros).
The first US plane will arrive in the country today, according to Pakistani officials, who say Washington is preparing an airlift for humanitarian aid.
The floods in Pakistan also injured 12,722 people, destroyed thousands of kilometers of roads, toppled bridges and damaged schools and hospitals, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
The floods also damaged some of Pakistan’s key monuments, including Mohenjo Daro, considered one of the best-preserved ancient urban settlements in South Asia.
The ruins near the Indus River were discovered in 1922 and, to this day, the mystery surrounds the disappearance of a civilization that dates back 4,500 years, coinciding with those of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Last week, the leader of the United Nations issued a warning about the effects of climate change.
“Let’s stop sleepwalking towards the destruction of our planet by climate change,” Guterres said in a video message sent to a ceremony in Islamabad. “Today it is Pakistan. Tomorrow it could be your country,” he added.
Source: TSF
