Flood funds: UN envoy says Pakistan still needs international help

Pakistan still in dire need of international support with regards to assisting flood victims says Rauf Engin Soysal.

MULTAN:

Special envoy for Pakistan to the UN secretary general Rauf Engin Soysal recently said that Pakistan was still in dire need of  international support with regards to assisting flood victims and reconstruction.

“We can’t say that we have done enough. The international community needs to help Pakistan rehabilitate flood victims and there needs to be additional aid,” he added. During a brief visit to UN projects launched in flood affected areas, Soysal said that the current projects were operating under the aegis of UNICEF, UN Habitat and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) at Pir Dargai Shah, Gahribabad and Ara Akbar Shah.  Soysal said UN teams had visited flood affected areas thrice and tried to assist the people in the area. “We are planning to continue our work in these communities. District and provincial governments need to coordinate with UN agencies to support the local community”, he added.  The UN ambassador hailed Japanese assistance, saying that Japan did not withdraw its pledges despite facing its own disaster. “Your sufferings are my sufferings and your hopes are my hopes. I shall not abandon this cause” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2011.