Italian govt assured support to flood victims in Pakistan: Shahbaz
ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (APP): Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti on Sunday Italian government, NGOs and religious leadership have assured Pakistan of their continued support to mitigate the sufferings of the flood-affected people.He stated this while addressing a press conference regarding recent visit to Italy, the minister said that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Franttini will announce 80 million euros relief package for Pakistan during his formal visit to Pakistan in October.Shahbaz Bhatti said that he briefed Italian leadership on the situation resulted from unprecedented floods in Pakistan and thanked the Italian government for providing assistance to Pakistan.
He said that Italy government commended the initiatives taken by Pakistan for inter-faith harmony and stated that these measures needed to be further highlighted.
He said that during meeting with “Pope Benedict XVI, he prayed for all those affected by the floods victims in Pakistan and said he would continue in supporting relief efforts made by the Vatican”.
He said that Vatican also appreciated Pakistan’s role to promote interfaith dialogue, harmony and understanding.
He said that the European states Foreign Ministers had agreed on the need to provide immediate access to Pak goods to European markets.
Highlighting the steps taken by the government for relief of the flood victims, he stressed the need for provision of clean drinking water, food and health related facilities to flood relief camps on urgent basis in order to save lives of about six million children.
He said the shortage of clean drinking water and health facilities has exposed children to waterborne and stomach diseases.
The Minister stressed the need for quick provision of clean drinking water and health facilities to avoid the possible spread of waterborne and stomach diseases in relief camps and flood hit areas.
He feared that the life of these children would be endangered if clean drinking water, hygiene food and health facilities to control waterborne and stomach diseases were not provide on emergency basis.
The government will address the problems of shortage of clean drinking water and health facilities on priority and was in close contacts with provincial government and UN agencies in this regard, he added.
He said that he was visiting Khyber-Pakthunkhwa’s relief camps to review the situation on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
The federal government despite limited resources is providing all out facilities to flood-hit people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, he added.
Bhatti said rehabilitation and reconstruction of destroyed houses of flood victims has topped the agenda list of federal government and would not leave any stone unturned till rehabilitation of last victim.
He said that detail damage need assessment survey are underway after which compensation would be given to victims.
Courtesy www.app.com.pk
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