Kristalina Georgieva, European Humanitarian Commissioner, today visited Pakistan to see the effect of the devastating floods on the country. More than 17 million people are now affected by the floods – in an area that now constitutes the world's largest freshwater lake.
As the world's leaders gathered for a special session of the General Assembly in New York, Oxfam urged the international community to avoid grand gestures and take immediate action to get aid to those affected by the Pakistani floods.
The UK government has made a good start in committing more than £30m ($38m). But it can and should do much more to help the people of Pakistan. This is a disaster on an unprecedented scale which needs an equally robust response.
The European Commission (EC) has announced today an additional €30 million in urgent relief assistance for the people affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF) urges the international community to play its part in meeting the immediate needs of millions of Pakistanis, and warns that without long-term funding, rebuilding this devastated country will prove virtually impossible.
Against the backdrop of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's visit to devastated areas of Pakistan, international aid agency Oxfam today says that the visit is welcome as the humanitarian community struggles to cope with limited funds and a rapidly escalating crisis.
The floods that have engulfed Pakistan over the last week are a mega disaster and the world needs to mount a mega response to ensure the millions affected get the help they need, international aid agency Oxfam said today as it called for a “gear shift” in the response to the crisis.
People in the Swat Valley in Northern Pakistan hit by the catastrophic floods were only just recovering from the conflict that forced them from their homes last year, said Neva Khan, Oxfam’s Country Director in Pakistan.
Oxfam launches a rapid relief effort to reach almost 400,000 people with clean water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies. We're trucking water and installing tanks to help prevent the spread of water-borne diseases amongst the estimated 1 million people affected.