"UN Appeals for Support as Pakistan Flood Recovery Costs Reach 20 Trillion Won"

Many Areas Still Flooded, Making Daily Life Recovery Difficult

Flood victims in Sehwan area, Sindh province, Pakistan, are receiving relief supplies. Since mid-June, monsoon heavy rains have submerged one-third of the country, resulting in over 1,100 deaths and more than 33 million people affected by the floods in Pakistan. Photo by EPA=Yonhap [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The United Nations has called for support for Pakistan, which is suffering severe hardship due to last summer's massive floods.

On the 9th (local time), Ant?nio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, appealed for assistance at a meeting on Pakistan's resource support held at the UN Geneva office, stating, "Pakistan is a victim of the climate crisis and the global financial system."

It is currently estimated that $16 billion (approximately 19.9 trillion KRW) will be required for national reconstruction, including some areas where the water has not yet receded.

Since heavy rains began in June last year, one-third of Pakistan's territory has been submerged. The floods have resulted in 1,700 deaths and about 8 million displaced people.

More than 2 million houses have collapsed or been damaged, 13,000 km of roads, 3,000 km of railways, 439 bridges, and 4.4 million acres of farmland have been lost.

Earlier, on the 5th, Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, said, "(Since many areas are still submerged) countless people have not been able to return to their daily lives and are living dependent on humanitarian aid in foreign places."

Disaster victims in Pakistan are living in relief tents set up by the provincial government in Hyderabad, Sindh Province. Photo by Xinhua/ Yonhap News

Since February last year, Pakistan's economic difficulties have deepened amid increased financial market volatility and global fiscal tightening, along with spreading inflation. As the value of the Pakistani rupee declined, concerns about the possibility of default arose.

With the flood damage compounding the financial crisis, Pakistan has been pushed into a situation where self-reliance is difficult without large-scale aid.

In particular, at the meeting, it was pointed out that the international community should feel responsible for Pakistan bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, despite its relatively low carbon emissions.

Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, who attended the meeting, appealed, "The total loss from the floods amounts to $30 billion (approximately 37.4 trillion KRW), which is 8% of Pakistan's Gross National Product," and urged, "Countries around the world should unite with the will to become Pakistan's lifeline."

Secretary-General Guterres emphasized the participation of countries worldwide, saying, "We need to be honest about the brutal damage developing countries suffer due to climate change."

The meeting held that day was convened to request international attention and financial support for the areas affected by the Pakistan floods and to unite representatives from governments and the private sector to rebuild Pakistan's destroyed infrastructure.