“The damage caused to our infrastructure is significant and extends to the entire country,” he added at a press conference.
Planning Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, he told AFP that the country would need more than $10 billion to repair and rebuild affected infrastructure.
“There has been massive damage to infrastructure, especially in the areas of telecommunications, roads, agriculture and livelihoods,” he said.
The authorities and humanitarian organizations are trying to speed up the delivery of aid to the more than 33 million people affected, one in seven Pakistanis, but the task is complicated by the damage to roads and bridges.
The UN calls for international assistance
From the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has been urged today massively increase emergency aid for the millions of people in Pakistan who are affected by the monsoon.
“The rains and floods have been catastrophic for millions of people. We urgently need global support and solidarity for Pakistan in these difficult times.” Philippo Grandi, Head of the UN Refugee Agency.
“The international community must step up its support and help Pakistan respond to this catastrophe,” Grandi said.
As part of a coordinated response under the leadership of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Committee (NDMA) and together with other partners, UNHCR has delivered relief items to the worst affected areas of Balochistan and Khyber Paktunkhwa.
So far, the agency has delivered more than 71,000 emergency relief items including tents, plastic sheeting, sanitary products, stoves, blankets, solar lamps and sleeping mats, as well as 10,000 sacks to help households build defenses around their houses. The assistance amounts to more than 1.5 million dollars. However, they point out that more help is needed.
Currently, more than 30 million people have been affected by torrential rains and flash floods across the country, leaving 6.4 million people in need of immediate help. Since June, floods have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, now living in camps or with host families.
Climate change
The monsoon, which usually lasts from June to September, is essential for irrigating crops and replenishing water resources in the Indian subcontinent.
Although similar events occur year after year, it had been three decades since the country had recorded such intense rainfall.
Pakistani authorities attribute these devastating rains to climate change and they affirm that the country suffers the consequences of irresponsible environmental practices in other parts of the world.
A third of Pakistan is currently “underwater,” the climate change minister told AFP on Monday. Sherry Rehmann, who cited a “crisis of unimaginable proportions”.
“Everything is a big ocean, there is no dry place from where you can pump the water,” said Minister Rehmanafter adding that the economic cost will be devastating.
The balance may increase because the authorities are still trying to reach the remote mountainous areas of the north. And in the south, the Indus River, the most important in the country, threatens to overflow its banks.
Source: Ambito
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