After visiting flood-ravaged Pakistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that he has "never seen climate carnage" on this scale, blaming wealthier countries for the devastation." I have seen many humanitarian disasters around the world, but I have never seen climate carnage on the scale of the floods here in Pakistan," he said at a press conference in Karachi after visiting the worst-affected areas in southern Pakistan, according to ARY News."I simply have no words to describe what I have seen today," the UN Secretary-General said.
"As our planet warms, all countries will suffer losses and damage from climate beyond their ability to adapt." This is a worldwide crisis. "It necessitates a global response," he added.The UN chief went on to say that families had lost their homes, and farmers had lost their crops and livestock.Massive and immediate financial assistance for Pakistan is urgently required, he said, adding that this is not a matter of solidarity or generosity, but of justice.
"I was moved by the kindness of people affected by the floods in Pakistan toward one another." They've opened their doors and shared what they've got. As the effects of the climate crisis continue to affect the most vulnerable, this is an example of solidarity for all countries," Guterres tweeted.He urged the international community to increase aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan, saying, "It is a question of justice, Pakistan is paying the price for something that was caused by others."
Guterres expressed hope that his visit will galvanize support for Pakistan, which has estimated the cost of the disaster at more than USD 30 billion, according to the government's flood relief centre.The UN Secretary-General visited several flood-ravaged areas in Pakistan on Saturday, calling for increased global financial support at the end of a two-day trip aimed at raising awareness of the disaster, according to ARY News.
During its annual monsoon season, Pakistan receives heavy — and often destructive — rains, which are critical for agriculture and water supplies. However, this year's heavy rains have wreaked havoc on the country, while rapidly melting glaciers in the north have piled pressure on waterways for months. Pakistan is responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it ranks eighth on a list compiled by the NGO Germanwatch of countries most vulnerable to climate-related extreme weather.
"Wealthier countries are morally responsible for assisting developing countries like Pakistan in recovering from disasters like this, as well as adapting to build resilience to climate impacts that will, unfortunately, be repeated in the future," Guterres said, adding that G20 nations are responsible for 80% of today's emissions.
After attending a briefing at the National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Pakistan needed "massive" financial support for relief, recovery, and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods that displaced more than 33 million people and are estimated to have caused USD 30 billion in the dam.
The UN Secretary-General arrived in Pakistan on Friday for a two-day visit to express solidarity with the people who have been drenched by extreme monsoon rains that have caused the country's worst flooding in a decade. According to an official statement, the Secretary-visit General will heighten global awareness of the magnitude of the disaster, as well as the resulting loss of life and widespread devastation.
The record monsoon and heavy floods in Pakistan have resulted in hunger and various illnesses affecting 33 million people, and experts believe that the situation will worsen in the coming days as flood victims are forced to live under the sky, depriving them of essential resources. Huge areas of the country remain underwater, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.
In the aftermath of severe floods, the initially estimated losses have accumulated in the range of USD 18 billion, Pakistan's agriculture sector faces the most severe blow, as agriculture growth may remain zero or even fall below the envisaged target of 3.9 percent for the current fiscal year 2022-23. The devastating floods displaced over 33 million people and caused an estimated USD 30 billion in damage. Pakistan is experiencing one of the worst flooding events in its history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The government estimates that the rains, floods, and impacts such as landslides have affected millions across the country, destroying infrastructure, homes, agricultural land, and livestock.At least 1,325 people have died as a result of the devastating floods in Pakistan.The human and socioeconomic toll is expected to rise as flood levels rise, putting enormous strain on the country's dams.According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, August was the wettest since records began in 1961. National rainfall was 244% above average. According to the monthly report, it was +590 percent in Balochistan and +726 percent in Sindh.
