ISLAMABAD: United Nations’ children’s fund (Unicef) on Tuesday lamented the fact that only less than a third of its funding appeal of $39 million for Pakistan’s flood-hit children has been financed so far.
“The children in Pakistan need the assistance of the entire globe. Delivering life-saving health, nutrition, and educational services to every kid in Pakistan who needs them most will help save lives, it said.
Gerida Birukila, the top field officer for Unicef Pakistan in Balochistan, told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that more than 3.4 million children in Pakistan will have been displaced from their homes for a month next week.
“More than 550 children have already perished as a result of the storms and floods. We worry that many more children will perish if there isn’t a big uptick in support, Ms. Birukila added.
“Large portions of the flood-affected areas are still under water three weeks later. Numerous roads and bridges have either been destroyed or washed away. Numerous families in 81 disaster-affected areas are still cut off and in serious need of assistance. Families lack access to clean water, food, and medicine.
She explained that because of the lack of food, many women are now anaemic and emaciated, and their offspring are quite underweight.
“Unicef has been assisting the government’s flood response on the ground since the first day. We sent $1 million worth of prepositioned goods out immediately after the floods, and another $3 million worth of supplies was sent out to the worst-hit areas. To assist kids in overcoming trauma, we have established 71 mobile health clinics and temporary learning facilities, according to Ms. Birukila.
In a related development, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday announced a significant flood relief package to assist Pakistan’s flood-relief program.
In a statement, the ADB stated that the bank will contribute to money for relief efforts in the nation’s flood-affected regions.
The bank will help the underprivileged, sick mothers, and children who were affected by flooding.
According to the statement, the ADB will support farmers who lost crops and give assistance in agricultural production to help them get back on their feet.
The lender will also provide funds for rebuilding of roads, bridges and other infrastructure destroyed in flood. It will also extend support for reconstruction of damaged houses, schools, hospitals and other amenity buildings.
In the last week of August, the Asian Development Bank had approved a $3 million grant to support the Government of Pakistan’s emergency relief efforts.
The grant, financed from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF), would help fund the immediate purchase of food supplies, tents, and other relief goods to support flood victims across the country. APDRF is a special fund designed to fast-track grants to ADB developing member countries affected by disasters triggered by natural hazards, according to a press release issued by the ADB.
“ADB stands with the people of Pakistan during these difficult times,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “We are committed to working with the government and other development partners to help Pakistan overcome the devastating impact of this natural disaster and provide immediate relief to affected families.”
