UN Chief to World: Rush More Aid to Pakistan

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked the world to extend more assistance to Pakistan as it has suffered billions of dollars of damage in the devastating floods, besides giving it debt support to help it overcome numerous challenges including economic stability.
 
Addressing a joint news conference with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the UN chief said “I will mobilize the international community to send more aid to Pakistan.”
 
The UNSG appreciated the efforts of all those who were involved in the relief efforts. He said that natural calamities are merciless for everybody. He expressed his grief that the Pakistan floods had affected millions of people.
 
Besides urging support for flood relief assistance he also emphasized debt support for Pakistan to help the country overcome numerous challenges including economic stability.
 
Guterres, who had earlier launched a global appeal to raise $160 million for the flood-affected people of Pakistan, said joint efforts were required to help the country overcome the consequences of climate change.
 
“Pakistan is in my heart as I have worked with this country for 17 years while the nation extended enormous generosity to Afghan refugees for decades,” he said. Pakistan, he said, despite its little contribution to climate change was bearing the negative effects of the phenomenon of natural disasters.
 
Talking to media, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that all institutions of Pakistan were busy in the rescue and relief efforts. Millions of affectees are being provided with food and other necessary items, the premier said adding that it was government’s foremost priority to shift the stranded people to safer places from the flood-hit areas.
 
Pakistan’s PM expressed his gratitude over the solidarity visit of UN Secretary-General Guterres to Pakistan.  “
 
The Pakistan’s prime minister said the civil government along with armed forces was carrying out massive rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected areas. He said Pakistan was facing the brunt of natural disasters and a similar situation could be faced by the rest of the world.