Labour Call For Help Over Pakistan Floods

The Irish Labour party has called for more help to be given to the victims of Pakistan's floods.

The United Nations said today more than four million Pakistanis have been made homeless by nearly three weeks of floods, and that greater amounts of aid were urgently needed.

Aid agencies have been pushing for more funding as they try to tackle major problems such as food supplies, lack of clean water and shelter and outbreaks of disease.

This morning, Michael D Higgins, Labour's Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, responded to the emergency saying that although the total EU contribution had reached a "welcome" €70 million, more is needed.

"The death toll rises daily, and the threat of water-borne diseases such as cholera and malaria is growing," TD Higgins said.

He added: "The Irish people have shown themselves to be amongst the world's most generous in terms of these actions and have over the years always refused to remain indifferent to the plight of those affected by disaster.

"Irish non-governmental organisations such as Trócaire, Concern and Goal are responding to the crisis directly and through their partner organisations. Donations through church collections and other mechanisms are most welcome and I call on government to match the generosity so many will show in these collections to assist those in the gravest need at this time of unimaginable suffering for so many."

Today, the Asian Development Bank has said it would grant a loan of $2 billion to help Pakistan rebuild from the floods, which have covered at least one-fifth of the country and claimed as many as 1,600 lives.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the number of people affected by heavy rains and floods has reached over 14 million population.

On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon visited affected areas in Punjab to highlight the United Nations’ support to this crisis. However, in areas such as Sindh and Baluchistan, floodwaters continue to rise. The World Health Organisation said insufficient sanitation facilities, unsafe drinking water and compromised personal hygiene are some of the major challenges faced by health workers.

(DW/BMcC)