Scale of flood devastation in Pak ‘unimaginable:’ Guterres
Pakistan needs massive financial support. This is not a mater of generosity, it is a mater of justice, UN chief tells media persons during his visit to flood-hit areas in Sindh and Balochistan
United Nations Secretary-general Antonio Guterres termed the devastation caused by the unprecedented floods “unimaginable” as he visited the affected areas in Sindh and Balochistan provinces on Saturday.
Guterres, accompanied by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhuto Zardari and others made an aerial visit to the floodaffected areas.
On the scale of flood devastation in the country, he remarked “unimaginable.”
Guterres has once again urged the world community to take calamity-hit Pakistan seriously and extend massive support to it so that it could be able to mitigate the effects of large-scale destruction caused by the recent catastrophic floods and unprecedented rains.
“It is difficult not to feel deeply moved to hear such detailed descriptions of tragedy,” Guterres said ater landing in Sindh, according to a video released by the office of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. “Pakistan needs massive financial support. This is not a mater of generosity, it is a mater of justice.”
A video released by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb showed Guterres seated next to Shahbaz viewing flood-damaged areas from an aircrat window. “Unimaginable,” Guterres said, surveying the damage.
Talking to the media in Sukkur, the UN chief said that he was dejected to see a huge loss of lives and a trail of destruction. “We are ready to help Pakistan in every possible manner,” Guteres said adding that Pakistan was severely hit by climate change.
Expressing solidarity with Pakistan, the UN chief said the UN would do everything possible to raise awareness about the flood situation in Pakistan and request those who have the capacity to support the country in these difficult times.
Guterres said developing nations were paying a “horrific price” for the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“Pakistan and other developing countries are paying a horrific price for the intransigence of big emiters that continue to bet on fossil fuels,” Guterres said in a tweet, shortly before heading to see some of the most flood-affected areas.
“From Islamabad, I am issuing a global appeal: Stop the madness. Invest in renewable energy now. End the war with nature.”
“The UN absolutely supports the Pakistani nation and requests the well-resourced nations to support the country massively, so that it can face the future challenges of climatic changes and save its nation,” he added.
He stressed that the international community must realise the serious impacts of greenhouse emissions as nature was striking back in the form of natural calamities.
The issue of greenhouse gases had accelerated the climatic changes and the nations having larger greenhouse emissions footprints must understand these issues, he added.
According to the scientific estimates, the UN secretary-general emphasized that now, it was a time to reduce greenhouse emissions. Later during the day, Shahbaz and Guterres flew to Balochistan where they met floodaffected people in Tehsil Osta Muhammad, District Jaffarabad.
The premier told Guteress that international community must support Pakistan to overcome the challenge of rehabilitation of the floodaffected people. He said that the relevant authorities faced huge difficulties to reach to the affected people in the remote areas of Balochistan province.
He informed that floods had badly affected the road and rail infrastructure, besides damaging bridges.
“The rehabilitation of the flood affectees is a major challenge and in order to deal with it, the federal government is assisting the provinces,” Shahbaz said.
He said that the province has its natural resources, and his government was focusing on the development of the province.
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