Islamabad, 9 September 2022 (TDI): The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, arrives in Pakistan to express solidarity with the people impacted by the flash floods in the country.
The United Nations Secretary-General @antonioguterres arrives in Pakistan to express his solidarity with the millions of people impacted by the historic floods in the country. #PakistanFloods #ClimateCrisis #SolidarityVisit pic.twitter.com/5HtLoqutzN
— United Nations Pakistan (@UNinPak) September 8, 2022
Plan of visit
He was received by Minister of State (MOS) Hina Rabbani Khar on his arrival in Islamabad. António Guterres will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and other government and military officials.
Upon his arrival, UN Secretary General @antonioguterres was received by MOS @HinaRKhar in #Islamabad.
UNSG is on a #SolidarityVisit to #Pakistan from 9-10 September 2022 to express support in wake of devastating #FloodsInPakistan.
🇵🇰🤝🇺🇳#UNSGinPak pic.twitter.com/pKo7Tk6ZAY
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) September 8, 2022
Furthermore, on his visit from 9th to 10th September, after meeting the officials, he will visit sites affected by flash floods. He will be witnessing the drastic effects of climate change, heavy monsoon rains, and overflowing glacial lakes in Pakistan.
“I have arrived in Pakistan to express my deep solidarity with the Pakistani people after the devastating floods,” Guterres said
He will also visit the areas most affected by the floods to oversee the UN’s response, rescue, and relief efforts for the millions of displaced people. the purpose of this visit is to show solidarity with the people by interacting with them on the ground.
The stimulus for climate action
This visit will help raise global awareness about the extent to which the floods have caused destruction. The global community will become aware of the needs of the 33 million affected people.
While addressing the whole world, António Guterres said, “I appeal for massive support from the international community as Pakistan responds to this climate catastrophe.”
In one of his statements, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan said, “The secretary-general’s visit will raise global awareness about the massive scale of this calamity and the resulting loss of life and widespread devastation.”
The UN Secretary-General has consistently highlighted the relationship of such disasters with the impacts of climate change. He has warned the international community about the increasing threat of climate change.
This climate change needs serious, timely, and practical actions. Otherwise, the impact of such destructive natural calamities will become far more lethal and widespread.
This visit will also reveal the actual situation of the destruction and must awaken the international community to see the reality of climate change. It will act as a stimulus to collectively change their practices.
