US to give extra $100 million to Pakistan floods recovery
Pakistan
US to give extra $100 million to Pakistan floods recovery
GENEVA (Reuters) - A senior official from the US development agency USAID said on Monday that Washington would provide an additional $100 million in funding for Pakistan’s recovery from devastating floods last year.
"I am delighted to announce that the United States is making an additional 100-million-dollar commitment to Pakistan to help it recover from the devastating 2022 monster monsoon floods," USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman told reporters on the sidelines of a major conference in Geneva.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan will need $16.3 billion for the rehabilitation of the people in the flood-affected areas and a framework has been prepared for the purpose.
Addressing the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, he said floods left the major infrastucture in tatters.
The opening session of the event is being hosted by Pakistan and the United Nations. The objective of the event being attended by heads of states and governments and other stakeholders is to gain international support to rehabilitate the population affected by floods and reconstruct damaged infrastructure in a climate-resilient manner.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said the world was standing at a “turning point of history” and “it’s not only a question of how to survive but its a question [of] how to maintain our bodies. It’s a question of how to maintain our dignity and honour by moving forward with a sense of purpose and a sense of achievement.” He said Pakistan witnessed a “monsoon on steroids this year” that affected 30 million people, displaced more than eight million people and washed away roads spread over 8,000 kilometres.
“One can go on and on but to truly say, we are racing against time. We are thankful for the support extended to us by the Asian Development Bank, the UN, the International Monetary Fund and several other international organisations.” Apart from the aid Pakistan received for flood rehabilitation, he said, the state “responded courageously” to the disaster. “They saved thousands of lives and quickly restored disrupted communications […] resilience funds were repurposed to provide cash grants of more than $400m to more than 2.7 million households.
The premier said his government had prepared a comprehensive plan for recovery, rehabilitation, reconstruction and resilience - the 4RF plan. “The first part of the plan reflects the recovery and reconstruction, bearing in mind that the minimum funding required is $16.3 billion, half of which will be met with domestic resources, half from foreign resources.” He explained that the second part of the plan incorporated flood-resilient design and infrastructure, such as protecting highways and early warning systems, on which $8b would be required over the span of three years.
“This conference today is not just about helping to rebuild lives, but in fact, it is about the solidarity and vision needed to ensure a future not just on paper but in schools and homes.” Today, PM Shehbaz stressed, “I am asking for your support for those who have lost their life savings, homes, and livelihoods and are facing the harsh winter under open skies”.
-- Marriyum shares key messages of PM’s speech --
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also shared the key messages of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at Climate Resistant Pakistan Conference in Geneva.
In a tweet, she said that one of the key points of the PM’s speech was that Pakistan would arrange 50 per cent of the US$16 billion reconstruction expenditures itself, however it would seek support from the international community in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process.
She said that Shehbaz Sharif pointed out that Pakistan was standing at a turning point as developing world was facing multiple crises. “Monsoon brought a peninsula of suffering,” she quoted the PM as saying.
