Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has alerted international community about the serious perils of erratic climate change that were threatening the nations across the globe .
He was briefing American and international media persons about the flood situation in Pakistan at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
He said that the recent flood and the massive devastation in Pakistan is an exhibit for the devastations of climate change. He said this phenomenon is going to grow whether it is Pakistan or any other countries in South Asia or the world.
The Ambassador said that though international media was extensively showing heart-wrenching visuals of the affected areas yet it has only captured “a fraction of the calamity what we are facing in Pakistan.”
He said that while it was a collective responsibility to reduce emissions, the international community must think of ways and means for compensation to those bearing the brunt of climate change despite making negligible contribution towards global warming.
Masood Khan suggested that we should make quick transition from mitigation and adaptation to preparedness and resilience.
While sharing harrowing details of the devastation caused by the flood that has submerged one third of the country, he informed the participants that over 1400 lives have been lost in Pakistan. More than 13,000 have been injured. A population of 33 million has been affected by flooding. He said around 6.6 million people needed immediate assistance. Nearly 800,000 farm cattle have perished.
Crops have been destroyed in an area as big as 5.5 million acres that includes all sorts of crops including rice, wheat, corn and sugarcane. Over 7000 kilometers long roads have been washed away with 246 bridges destroyed.
The Ambassador said that as large as 5.5 million acres of cropland has been destroyed resulting in a looming food security crisis. He said “WFP and other international organizations must come forward and give necessary support to the people of Pakistan so that we can maintain our food security.
The Ambassador thanked the US government, Congress, US philanthropic and charity organizations and most importantly Pak-American community for their generous contributions towards relief and rescue activities.
Source: Radio Pakistan