Karachi, 17 October 2022 (TDI): Jemal Beker, the Ethiopian Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan visited the Tent City District of Sindh Province. While there, he met the flood victims.
He gave out essential supplies like food, medicine, shelter, and non-food goods to more than 8,000 people in the area. Karachi is a two-hour trip from Tent City.
The Ambassador stated that he can very well empathize with the people going through suffering and anguish in the wake of natural calamity.
He said that it was very sad and agonizing to see a third of the country submerged in water, more than 1600 precious lives lost, 1.7 million homes destroyed, and women giving birth in tents.
During this year’s catastrophic floods, 800,000 animals perished, the majority of crops were destroyed, and infrastructures like schools, and hospitals were destroyed, all of which had a devastating impact on people’s ability to support themselves.
Ambassador Jemal Beker was welcomed by a group of people, including elderly men, ladies, young people, and children, upon arrival in the Tent City.
The Ambassador, scanning the camps and imagining the enormity of the suffering, could not help but express empathy and sorrow with them as he looked into their face and eyes.
In connection with this, he lauded the Pakistani people’s strong and sturdy hearts, growing optimism for survival, revival, and recovery, and passionate anticipation for their return to their homes.
However, he couldn’t help but ponder about what would be left behind in their community after they returned; only debris and the need to start over.
During his visit, the Ethiopian ambassador also expressed concern about the likelihood of a disease outbreak, which would severely harm the already devastated society.
He urged the international community to step up efforts to help Pakistan in its hour of need. Along these lines, he also pointed out that Pakistan became the epicenter of climate change disasters despite contributing little to the causes & suffering the most.
Likewise, he said that when it comes to the main causes of climate change, wealthy countries’ selfishness and refusal to change their behavior in response to scientific advice and warnings cost the globe a lot of money.
Developing countries like Pakistan and Ethiopia, contribute little to this problem, yet suffer the most. In this vein, he underscored that today climate change has become a reality.
Ambassador Jemal Beker urged all states and non-state entities to adopt the ethic of do-no-harm and refrain from misbehavior that has exacerbated the planet’s growing disaster.
He stated that it is obvious that today’s human sufferings are the result of the self-centered, state-of-nature behavior of industrialized states, which poisoned the environment and destroyed the ecosystem.
As a result, it is critical for rich countries to provide climate finance, technology, and capacity building to developing countries like Pakistan in order for them to mitigate and adapt processes that aid in the creation of a resilient economy.
To that aim, it is necessary to continue and redouble efforts to raise finances for the nation’s rescue, recovery, rebuilding, and reconstruction, as well as to assure justice.
The Ambassador of Ethiopia reiterated that during this difficult moment, the Ethiopian government and people will stand in solidarity with their Pakistani brothers and sisters, sharing their pain and suffering.
He shared that his visit to the flood-affected area was a unique experience as he witnessed a real problem unfolding. Moreover, Ambassador Jemal Beker also held a productive meeting with Tent City management.
Finally, Ambassador Jemal-Beker and other officials provided the children with basic rations, medicine, shelter, water, cookies, and toys.
