UN to start relief operation in rain hit areas

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies need a written request from the Federal Government to start relief operations in rain affected areas of Sindh and other parts of the country.

Talking to APP on Monday, a World Food Programme (WFP) official said that the UN humanitarian agencies were ready for the purpose and would start the relief work in rain affected areas as soon as a written request was received from the Federal Government.

To a question, the WFP official said that firstly the government should start the relief operation and if the authorities felt that an operation on large scale was needed then they might approach the UN humanitarian agencies.

Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Sunday during the visit of rain affected areas said the federal government on the recommendation of the provincial government was seriously considering to seek UN assistance to help the affected people.

He said that the Sindh government had allocated Rs 50 billion for providing relief to the rain affected people but in view immense losses, the Federal Government had been requested to provide funds and seek the United Nations help as early as possible.

The recent heavy rains have caused massive devastation in six districts of Sindh, including Badin, Tharparkar, Umer Kot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas. Besides crops, the rains have damaged roads and buildings.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011