Representatives of Unicef, WFP, and Unesco made the appeal at a press conference they addressed here with UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Pakistan Jean-Maurice Ripert.
Ripert, who has just completed a mission to the Swat district, said: “Pakistan is on the General Secretary’s top agenda. After his visit to Pakistan where he interacted with the highest authorities has made a strong commitment to help Pakistan. It’s a slow Tsunami but the world has now seen how serious this is and there is a great sum donated to the victims. However there is a meeting scheduled for September 19 next month to review the progress and launch a new appeal. FODP will also conduct a meeting in Brussels for the same purpose. Asian Development Bank is also working on a financing plan for Pakistan. International community has the intention and we need to mobilise what we have. We are standing together with Pakistan…you are not alone.”
Anthony Lake, Executive Director of Unicef, and WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, had just returned from a joint visit to their operations in the flood zone in Muzaffargarh, Punjab the same day.
Lake said: “This is the worst crisis witnessed this decade. Of the people affected, 50 per cent are children who are suffering from deadly waterborne diseases. Unicef has tried to reach them in terms of hunger, vaccination, shelter.
“I was moved by the children I saw in Charsada by seeing the trauma in their eyes. I spent time with them in the child friendly spaces created by Unicef and observed drawings of all that they have lost. There is an urgent need to step up. Potential second wave of water borne diseases such as cholera should be prevented now - recovery will be difficult - we need to urgently pick up the pace.
“We need more funds, everything we do now will reduce dimensions of recovery later,” added Lake
WFP and Unicef have already begun projects to repair tube wells and other important infrastructure, as well as assisting farmers in their first efforts to return to their land and prepare the upcoming planting season.
WFP’s Josette Sheeron spoke about the urgent need to meet the needs of the 800,000 people whose needs can only be met by air. “We need $40 million for 40 helicopters.” Sheeron also spoke about revitalizing the lives of those farmers who have lost their crops. “There is a triple threat unfolding as this crisis widens and deepens. People have lost seeds, crops, and their incomes leaving them vulnerable to hunger, homelessness and desperation - the situation is extremely critical. Some will not miss the planting season as crops come back in time, for that we are closely working with FAO to get peoples economic life reformed and bring back the logic of local markets. We have reached 3 million of 6 million and need to meet more. “We are not here for days, for weeks but for months.” Less than 50 per cent has been funded and the level of crisis keeps on unfolding as the water is moving down causing devastation. “We need to expand our food basket which will be done soon. Sheeron told The Express Tribune “I will take back the memories of the vulnerable women who I met in Punjab and will step up with efforts and make a special appeal for these devastated families.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2010.
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