ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday urged Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), NGOs and other humanitarian organizations to augment efforts for relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people.In a meeting with President of International Federation of Red Crescent (IFRC) Tadateru Konoe here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President asked the relief organizations to complement government’s efforts in reaching out to the flood victims in remote areas of the country.
The President appreciated IFRC for the humanitarian services to the most vulnerable sections of the society in critical times of natural disasters, including the recent devastating floods.
The President said the country had never seen such a large scale devastation caused by the floods that affected over 70 districts of the country.
He said besides initial relief to the flood affected, there was a need to take measures against the spread of diseases and rebuild destroyed homes, roads, bridges and infrastructure. He said it was a huge challenge for any government or party to undertake on its own and can only be managed with combined and concerted efforts of the whole nation, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the civil society, the international community and donor agencies.
IFRC President Tadateru Konoe apprised President Zardari that PRCS and movement partners have so far reached out to over 143,000 families by providing food packs and non-food items and added that the IFRC planned to provide assistance to 300,000 affected families during emergency relief phase.
He said nine water purification plants, six in Sindh and three in Punjab, have been installed to provide clean drinking water to the affected people.
The President thanked Tadateru Konoe for the efforts by PRCS and movement partners for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in Pakistan. The IFRC President was accompanied by Chairperson of Pakistan Red Crescent Society Senator Nilofer Bakhtiar, IFRC Pakistan Pepe Salmela, Head of Operations IFRC Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General PRCS Muhammad Ilyas Khan and other members of his delegation.
From Pakistani side the meeting was attended by Minister for Health Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Senator Sughra Imam, Ms Farahnaz Ispahani MNA, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat , Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar and other senior government officials – APP
