News
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Pakistan to need urgent funding in event of floods* Humanitarian organisations call on government, donors for support
ISLAMABAD: The international and national humanitarian organisations, on Monday, said that some relief supplies were available for responding quickly in case of serious flooding, but urgent funding would be required to ensure that assistance reached those in need.
The agencies warned that lack of funds and limited relief stocks would severely hamper the Pakistan government’s and aid agencies’ ability to respond to further flooding this monsoon season
They called on the government to request support in the event of an emergency and requested donors to support the government and humanitarian community.
“Despite a delayed monsoon this year, the possibility of new floods cannot be ruled out. The international community is prepared to support the government of Pakistan respond to a floods emergency this year, but it is crucial that a call for international assistance is not delayed if there is large-scale flooding. Without additional funds, humanitarian agencies will struggle to provide the necessary assistance to communities at risk of increased vulnerability from consecutive flooding in the past two years,” Pakistan Humanitarian Forum’s (PHF) Chair and Concern Worldwide Country Director Áine Fay said. “The humanitarian community supports the government’s efforts in developing and implementing a flood preparedness plan at both provincial and federal levels this year.
Saving lives and livelihoods must be at the heart of all preparedness plans and it is vital that an early request for support from the government is issued to minimise the human suffering and to help mobilise resources for an effective response,” Fay added.
In the aftermath of the two consecutive flood disasters in 2010 and 2011, hundreds of thousands of people were still struggling to rebuild their lives and earn a living. “While the emergency appeal funds cater to the immediate needs of those affected, it is vital that the government, donors and the international community to ensure long-term support to help rehabilitate communities, restore jobs and enable people to get back on their feet,” National Humanitarian Network (NHN) Executive Committee Member Naseer Memon said.
This commitment towards a long-term investment was missing last year as the UN’s Early Recovery Appeal for the 2011 floods remained only ten percent funded, while despite unmet needs, funding and rehabilitation programmes phased out gradually after the floods of 2010.
“Pakistan will keep losing out on the development gains made, if investment in measures to reduce the impact of disasters is not made. We appreciate the government’s commitment to the cause but it’s high time that policies present on paper are urgently implemented across the country to secure lives, dignity, livelihoods and scarce resources,” Oxfam Country Director Arif Jabbar Khan said.
According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2011-12, the floods in Sindh and Balochistan in 2011 had caused losses worth $3.4 billion to infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and housing. While reconstruction in the aftermath of the 2010 floods cost at $10 billion, a loss that could have been reduced substantially by implementing disaster mitigation strategies. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank estimate that an investment of just $27 million, backed up with yearly top-ups to mitigate disasters, could minimise losses substantially. pr
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk