Islamabad, 4 October 2022 (TDI): The European Union (EU) has declared that it will significantly increase its aid to Pakistan’s flood victims.
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, announced PKR 6.7 billion (€30 million) in humanitarian help for Pakistan during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
This week, the Commissioner is in Pakistan to observe firsthand the effects of the terrible floods and the ongoing relief operations.
With the assistance of this additional capital, the most pressing requirements will be met, including basic housing, access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities, food and nutrition, and medical care.
Women, children, and other vulnerable individuals will be protected from additional damage as a result of the initiatives sponsored by the EU, and youngsters will soon regain access to education.
People will be able to reconstruct their houses and means of subsistence with the help of cash support. The psychological impact on those impacted will also be considered, given the severity of the crisis.
Janez Lenarčič reiterated that “People in Pakistan are suffering the devastating consequences of an unprecedented flooding emergency.
Our thoughts are with those who lost family members, friends, and their own homes. What is more, many livelihoods have been lost.
With this new funding, the EU reaffirms its continued support to Pakistan and stands by the most vulnerable to help them fulfill basic needs. Once again, however, nature reminded us of the impact of global warming.
Mainstreaming disaster preparedness and prevention in EU-funded projects will therefore remain our top priority within the provision of humanitarian assistance.”
Commissioner Lenarčič visited Khipro in Sindh province upon arrival in Pakistan. Whilst there, he assessed the scope of the disaster, interacted with impacted families, and observed the European aid that is already in place.
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He went to a Danish civil protection team’s water purification plant and a humanitarian operation conducted by an EU-funded international non-governmental organization.
To date, the EU and its member states have committed €93 million as “Team Europe.” With the additional monies released today, this totals €123 million.
In addition, European civil protection agencies have sent tents, blankets, medical equipment, and specialists and technicians in kind.
It is pertinent to note that Copernicus, a satellite programme operated by the European Commission, collects real-time data and offers high-resolution maps to aid in the assessment of the situation in the most impacted areas.
Also, the EU’s Global Flood Monitoring (GFM) system can assist teams on the ground as well as national and provincial authorities in monitoring the situation and allocating resources as needed.
