Islamabad, 6 September 2022 (TDI): Federal Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman met with the Ambassador of France to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, on Tuesday.
Federal Minister briefed the Ambassador on the challenges the country is facing in the current relief efforts and the assistance required for the rehabilitation of the flood affectees.
French Ambassador Nicolas Galey expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan on the devastation wreaked by the floods and assured full support from the government of France.
Federal Minister Sherry Rehman thanked the French Ambassador for France’s support for the country. She said, “We appreciate France’s support in these tough times and would require assistance in the rehabilitation and relief process.”
Flood situation in Pakistan
Federal Minister briefed the Ambassador, “The devastation on the ground is much more than we have ever encountered even in the 2010 floods. We have not seen a humanitarian disaster of such epic proportion.”
In addition, the Federal Minister highlighted that “more than 5,700 km of metaled roads and 246 bridges have been severely damaged in the 81 calamity-hit regions, cutting communication lines making relief and rescue herculean challenge.”
Apprising the Ambassador of the assistance needed in the flood-hit regions, Minister Sherry Rehman said, “We need to rebuild adaptive and resilient infrastructure. Moreover, we are now bracing for a health emergency due to water-borne diseases such as cholera and dengue.”
She emphasized that “Health assistance is imperative due to fragility and vulnerability on the ground as people are surviving under open skies, waiting for government assistance. We need to provide tents and medics on a priority basis.”
Moreover, she mentioned “Women’s health crisis is looming in the heart of affected areas with at least 650,000 pregnant women, of whom 73,000 are expected to deliver next month. The flood-affected areas are in dire need of maternal health service.”
Ambassador of France, Nicolas Galey on his part expressed condolences and deepest regret for the loss of lives due to the devastating floods. Lastly, he assured full support from the French government in these trying times.
