Islamabad: In an effort to help 20 million flood victims survive the bitter winter, while his country struggles to deal with the humanitarian fallout from massive floods at the start of the year, Pakistan's prime minister on Wednesday appealed to the international community appealed.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif makes an emotional plea to help organize food, tents and other necessities for millions of people who were displaced by deadly floods, ahead of an international donors' conference in Geneva, January 9, 2023 .
The 20 million flood victims still needed urgent humanitarian aid, Sharif made the televised remarks while visiting Kot Diji in the southern province of Sindh, an area that was badly damaged by the floods.
Also Read: 9 were detained in North Macedonia for smuggling migrants
Cash-strapped Pakistan was already facing a severe financial crisis before heavy monsoon rains began in mid-June. The unprecedented floods caused by the rains at one point submerged one-third of the country.
Sharif claimed that despite contributing very little to global carbon emissions, Pakistan was facing floods caused by climate change.
An "international conference on climate resilient Pakistan" will be co-hosted by the United Nations in Geneva in an effort to raise much-needed funds for victims of last summer's widespread floods, which killed 1,739 people, destroyed 2.2 million homes, and affected 33 million Pakistanis.
Thousands of flood victims are still living in open spaces, according to Sharif, who said he intends to travel to Switzerland to describe their plight to the international community.
Also Read: Crisis-hit Sri Lanka gets ready for Gulfood 2023 to bring in more foreign currency
According to Sharif, nine million children are among the survivors of the flood, and they are "waiting desperately for help." He claimed that his country was trying to help the flood victims with the resources available with it.
Sharif said snow has started falling in some flood-affected areas in the northwest and southwest of Balochistan province, making the situation worse for flood survivors. "People living in such areas are asking for help from the sky. Tents and help are needed," he said.
According to Sharif, by rebuilding communities and homes destroyed by the floods, the Pakistani government is making every effort to ensure that flood victims can resume their normal lives. In recent weeks, many flood survivors have visited their villages.
Also Read: Zelensky accuses Iran of supporting Russia's "genocidal programme" toward Ukraine
Many crops of the country were also destroyed by the flood. Pakistan claims that the floods have caused losses of up to $40 billion to its economy.