Guterres inspects Pakistan floods, calls for 'massive' global support, calls for more action on climate change

Guterres inspects Pakistan floods, calls for 'massive' global support, calls for more action on climate change

 United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (left) and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hold a joint press conference. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

 United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (left) and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hold a joint press conference

 climate change and the environment

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Pakistan on Friday in solidarity with the people of the country. This comes after Pakistan suffered severe loss of life and damage in this year's devastating floods. He called for massive international support to tackle the "climate catastrophe".

  

 Since mid-June, Pakistan has been hit by near-constant monsoon rains, flash floods and rain-induced landslides that have caused widespread damage and casualties, affecting millions of people in the South Asian country.

  

 Upon arrival, Guterres was briefed on the latest developments by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other senior government members development, and a Pakistan-led response.

  

 Guterres did this for two days, not only to express solidarity, but as he said in various meetings, "this action is about justice".

  

 Guterres and Foreign Minister Zardari held a joint news conference in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. At the meeting, he told reporters: "My condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy, to all those affected by the loss of their homes, careers and livelihoods."

  

 terrifying wall of water

 "[We] have all seen pictures published in the media about this extraordinary devastation. I can imagine the flood coming, rushing towards villages, roads, bridges and everything along the way, creating a wall of water, which is obviously It's terrible." Guterres added: "No country should suffer this fate, especially a country like Pakistan, which is not responsible for global warming."

  

 Guterres emphasized that, in fact, in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, developing countries such as Pakistan are paying a heavy price for carbon-emitting countries that disregard science, common sense and basic human decency and remain stubborn. use of fossil fuels.

  

 Today, as people die from floods and famine, carbon emissions are still climbing. "This is absurd," the secretary-general said, adding that "it is tantamount to mass suicide", calling for an end to the "war with nature" and urging more investment in renewable energy.

  

 A message to the people of Pakistan

 Earlier in the day, Guterres met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif, and together they visited the National Flood Response and Coordination Center, established on September 1 to coordinate and strengthen the national response to the ongoing of floods.

  

 At the center, Guterres, Pakistani officials and others in attendance watched a short video that provided a clear picture of the scale of the damage the floods have caused so far. Some footage showed cars and buildings being washed away by the rolling water. The short film also depicts the heartbreaking situation of some women, children and men as a result of their displacement.

  

 Guterres stood on the podium set up by the Coordination Center and spoke directly to the Pakistani people: "I have seen you volunteering...to protect and help Afghan refugees. I have seen your generosity, helping each other, helping each other's families and communities... So, I know what this unprecedented natural disaster means for the people of Pakistan."

  

 He assured the people of Pakistan, “We will do everything in our power to mobilize the international community to support your country and all of you in this unexpected situation. Beyond the casualty figures, I have seen some families lose loved ones and some families lose their loved ones. Houses, some families lose their crops, some families lose their jobs, some families live in despair.”

  

 Meanwhile, the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on Friday announced a $700 million grant to strengthen its response to flooding in Pakistan.

  

 The Secretary-General stressed that he has also seen "an extraordinary display of solidarity in the response of civilians, government officials, military personnel, NGOs and the population to the best of their ability within Pakistan".

  

 'Nature is fighting back'

 Guterres then spoke directly to the international community: "Pakistan needs massive financial support to deal with this crisis, which according to some estimates I heard today has cost about $30 billion, and the amount increasing."

  

 He stressed that the international community, especially the countries with greater responsibility for climate change, must realize this. He urged "effective solidarity and effective justice" by mobilizing massive support for relief, recovery and reconstruction.

  

 He warned, "We are heading for a catastrophe... We have waged a war on nature, and nature is fighting back in devastating ways."

  

 Governments at all levels "work together"

 At the National Flood Response and Coordination Centre, the Pakistani Prime Minister told Guterres: "You have brought great encouragement."

  

 He reiterated that the Pakistani government and provincial governments and all stakeholders including the armed forces are working together to provide relief and relief to millions of people in need.

  

 About 33 million people are in dire conditions, according to the Pakistani government. "At this very moment, as we talk, Pakistan is moving people to safety and providing food and shelter," the prime minister said.

  

 huge demand

 "Today, when you stand here, one-third of our country is submerged," said Foreign Minister Zardari. "Our people have lost their lives, lost their livelihoods, and they are facing hunger, disease and A very real threat of further sabotage."

  

 Zardari pointed out that his party's slogan is to ensure "food, clothing and shelter" for the people. But "I can't shelter 33 million families. I can't feed and clothe 35 million families."

  

 The Pakistani government is also considering all the work that needs to be done after the floods recede, such as rebuilding houses, schools and infrastructure. "We know we can't do these things independently, but we can do it together."

  

 He affirmed his confidence in the United Nations and its international partners, saying the international community "will not leave us in our difficult times, and we will rebuild Pakistan, and build it better."

  

 Climate change affecting Pakistan

 Guterres reminded the world that Pakistan has relatively low levels of carbon emissions, "but Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change", saying the floods were a product of "intensified climate change".

  

 Pakistan has consistently ranked among the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change, mainly in the irrigation system of the Indus River, which is huge and vital to Pakistan.

  

 Average temperatures in Pakistan have risen by one degree Celsius over the last century; Pakistan has witnessed very erratic extreme weather events over the past decade; and in the future, Pakistan is expected to be even more vulnerable to climate challenges.

  

 The Secretary-General has warned that the loss and devastation of the climate crisis is not the event of the future, "they are playing out right around us right now", urging governments to take action at the UNFCCC COP27 Address this issue with due seriousness.

  

 Meeting with the United Nations country team

 Accompanied by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and UN Resident Coordinator Julian Hanes, Guterres began his first day in Islamabad with a meeting with the UN country in Pakistan task force. Representatives of UN agencies briefed him on Pakistan's response and needs.

  

 Guterres will see the impact of flooding on different parts of Pakistan on Saturday, some of which experienced its wettest August on record. Rainfall in some provinces was eight times higher than usual.

  

 He pointed out that the United Nations is supporting the Pakistani government's relief efforts on the ground.

  

 "We and civil society are making the most of the funds released by the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund," Guterres confirmed, adding that the UN's airfreight route at the Dubai logistics hub is at full capacity.

  

 "United Nations staff have provided food or cash assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in Balochistan and Sindh, as well as a lot of emergency supplies to support children and women," he said. "But when it comes to meeting the needs of the Pakistani people, we All that was done was a drop in the bucket."

  

 Hundreds of thousands of displaced people seek shelter in temporary shelters, and many more - as many as 6 million live in host communities.

  

 The Secretary-General will leave lively Islamabad for southern Pakistan, where he will witness the devastation wrought by floods in some areas and is expected to meet displaced people and emergency responders, female health workers and nurses9