UNITED NATIONS: India has handed over a cheque of USD 20 million to UN chief Ban Ki-moon as its contribution for flood relief in Pakistan, saying it remained committed to assisting its neighbor in time of crisis.
India decided to send the money through the UN after Pakistan requested it to do so as the UN is coordinating the relief and rehabilitation program.
India’s envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri gave the cheque to the UN Secretary General.
After handing over the contribution, Puri said: “The people of India stand by the people of Pakistan in their hour of need
we are committed to assisting the people of Pakistan in all possible ways in these difficult times.”
“We cannot remain unconcerned with this grave humanitarian crisis of enormous magnitude in our immediate neighborhood,” he added, underlining that India was familiar with the consequences and trauma of natural disasters.
Puri said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister S M Krishna has spoken to their counterpart in Pakistan and offered assistance.
“Millions of children and pregnant women are especially at risk. They need access to critical health care.”
Eighty per cent of those hit by the floods are farmers, many of whom have lost their crops and will not able to plant their fields by November, and are likely to be dependent on aid until 2012, according to the UN.
Lack of soap and water is leading to the rise of skin diseases and millions of people remain vulnerable to cholera and diarrhea.
Out of the 21 million people affected, 12 million are in desperate condition with no access to clean drinking water or health facilities, according to the UN.
While the water has receded in some parts of the country, new areas are going under water.
“Pakistan is experiencing several disasters simultaneously rather than just one big one,” said Valerie Amos, UN’s emergency relief coordinator.
“Many have lost everything.”
“In the months to come millions of Pakistanis will be relying on agriculture and livelihood projects as much as on the life saving assistance,” she added.
A ‘Friends of Pakistan’ meeting this Sunday, on the sidelines of the opening of the General Assembly, has been organized to drum up further support for flood-hit Pakistan.
“There has been some skepticism and specifically that leads to some sort of trust deficit,” said Pakistan’s envoy to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN, noting that bilaterally his country had only received 18 million dollars so far in cash.
“Catastrophes are still there, nature has not had its final say,” he added, asking the international community to donate generously.
“We do need help. This is going to have a strong effect in the region, the people and the politics of the entire area.”
-PTI
