Mr. Jamil Ahmed Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan in Libya, speaking at a fund raising dinner in Tripoli, Libya at his residence popularly called Pakistan House on August 23, 2010 said that within a short span of a few days since the fund raising efforts were started in Libya for the rehabilitation of floods victims in Pakistan, about $ 2.6 million have already been collected and that the Head of UNO in Libya would also participate in fund raising efforts including such fund raising dinners and provide UN perspective about UN strategy for floods relief to Pakistan.
He informed the select gathering of the elite circles from communities of all nationalities including Libya and Bosnia that the response of people on humanitarian grounds cut across the bearers of faith, colour or creed and Pakistan feels proud for the fact that the whole world stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan at this time of trial and tribulation.
Libya Participating Comprehensively
He said Libya is dong its utmost to comprehensively participate in Pakistan’s relief and rehabilitation efforts at home. ‘Libya sent a plane carrying relief goods to Pakistan yesterday and a plane load of goods is being purchased locally in Pakistan,’ said the Ambassador.
Recounting Libyan efforts he said, ‘Libya has also opened a relief office in Peshawar, Pakistan whereas Libya Hillal Ahmar has also stepped in to distribute goods to the flood victims. 'Libyan Chamber of Commerce and Business Council of Libya are jointly drawing strategies to gather funds on war footings,’ said the Ambassador.
Great Response From the World Community
He said in response to the appeal of UN General Secretary Mr Ban Ki-Moon, who visited Pakistan last week and had the first hand knowledge of the gravity of the situation, for 460 million for immediate relief funds for Pakistan about 79 per cent of the funds have already been received.
Reflecting upon the loss of people in floods he said more than 20 million people have been affected with one million houses simply washed away with all their households and livestock. Drawing parallels he said the loss is more than three times that of 2004 Asian tsunami and Haiti earthquake combined.
Agriculture Sector in Pakistan Decimated
He told the gathering that because of the impact of floods on the agricultural sector it is estimated that at least 1 percent of Pakistan’s GNP this year will be reduced. ‘Pakistan being an agricultural country this accounts for about 20 percent of the economy,’ said he.
‘Over 200,00 livestock have been lost in addition to100 percent poultry losses in some districts whereas over 7000,000 medium and large animals in KP province alone require emergency feed and veterinary support,’ detailed the Ambassador.
Spectre of Water-Born Diseases Haunts Flood Victims
On an urgent note the Ambassador said in the wake of floods spectre of water born diseases is haunting the flood victims. He said about 6 million people do not have access to clean water and 3.5 million children in the flood affected areas are at risk of contracting deadly water-born diseases like diarrhoea.
Expressing his satisfaction on the response of the people and their eagerness to join in government’s relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood victims, he said it is a long haul and requires greater consistency and fortitude on our part unless the flood victims are fully rehabilitated.
Before and after his speech slides and small movies were shown that highlighted the extensive damage the flood had done in Pakistan
Syed Javed Hussain - Dr Syed Javed Hussain is a noted columnist and analyst who has been writing since 1984. He hails from Islamabad, Pakistan, where he taught ...
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