World Bank promises $2 billion for flood-torn Pakistan: The World Bank said it would provide Pakistan, devastated by floods that have killed more than 1,600 people this year, with roughly $2 billion in help.
Since mid-June, 13,000 people have wounded nationwide due to this year’s unprecedented monsoon rains and floods. Which many scientists link to climate change.
Millions of people have displaced by the floods, devastated crops, 500,000 houses, and hundreds of kilometers (miles) of highways.
Martin Raiser, vice president of the World Bank for South Asia, pledged in a Saturday evening statement.
We are working with the federal and provincial governments to provide urgent support to those who are most impacted. “We are very grieved by the loss of life and livelihoods due to the tragic floods,” he added.
Raiser visited Dadu with federal ministers and the chief minister of Sindh, the worst-hit province.
The National Disaster Management Authority said typhoid, malaria, and dengue fever had killed at least 300 people. Thousands of improvised medical camps have put up for flood survivors.
The death toll forced the World Health Organization to issue a “second catastrophe” alert last week, with medical personnel rushing to contain breakouts.
According to Raiser, continuing World Bank-financed projects repurpose funds for health, food, housing, rehabilitation, and cash transfers.
Following a meeting with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif last week on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly, the World Bank decided to provide Pakistan with $850 million in flood aid.
That sum include in the $2 billion number. Raiser says that the bank works with the provincial government to rebuild homes and infrastructure as soon as possible, “restore livelihoods. And make Pakistan more resistant to climate-related threats.” To that end, we are planning to finance around $2 billion.
During the last two months, Pakistan has dispatched around 10,000 physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel to care for survivors in Sindh province.
