Climate change is a global problem: German envoy

Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their livelihoods in a few months and that is all because of the climate change that is a global challenge for all, German Consul General in Karachi Dr Rudiger Lotz said while visiting parts of southern districts of Sindh.

He said, Germany has already contributed 10 million euros in flood relief efforts for Pakistan and now this grant is being extended to over 60 million euro.

"Now the total grant for flood relief efforts for Pakistan is over 60 million euros," Lotz said. "We are amongst the biggest donors and we think it's very important to do that because of the climate change," he explained.

Dr Lotz visited different villages of Tando Jan Muhammad and Jhuddo talukas of Mirpurkhas district affected by the recent heavy rains. He inaugurated a water filter plant, a medical camp and distributed ration among the affected families.

"Climate change and global warming is likely to have played a decisive role in the devastating floods that hit Pakistan. It is a wake-up-call for nations in the world to address the threats of climate change," he said urging developed countries to focus on global environmental crisis.

The Greman envoy said, "we all need to work together to overcome such issues. Germany is supporting and standing with Pakistan during these difficult time. We are helping Pakistan's relief efforts and we will do so for rehabilitation."

Lotz said it is an ongoing commitment of the German

government to work together with Pakistan and other countries to try to help to avoid such catastrophes in future.

The German Consul General was of the views that the climate change has affected many countries. "Hundreds of thousands of the people have lost their livelihood over the recent months," he said. "It is an ongoing problem and we believe climate change is its cause."

Medical Camp

In a camp set up at Niaz Kapri village near Jhudo town, scores of flood affected families approached the medical teams. Majority of the patients were women complaining different water-borne diseases, including fever.

"I have come here to get medical help," said Allah Dad, a 61-year-old man. "I got fracture in my leg during heavy rains of 2012," he remembered. "These floods make poor peoples' lives miserable," he said.

Dad told The Express Tribune that he has lost all his belongings including his mud-house. "We are helpless before the nature," he tried to smile. "Allah is Great," he smiled with teary eyes.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2022.