Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

Pakistan: concern over immediate needs, quake aid

Pakistan: with quake aid aimed at long term, UN experts warn of immediate needs

While warmly welcoming Saturday's international donors' conference for Pakistan's recovery from last month's devastating earthquake, a group of United Nations experts warned today that the vast majority of pledges are earmarked for long-term recovery even as operations remain in the critical rescue and assistance phase.

"Even in the face of such generosity, the risk of a second humanitarian disaster looms large," the experts said in a statement on the $5.4 billion pledged. "More lives are at risk today than the 74,000 originally claimed by the earthquakes. Donors must not rest content with the outcome of Saturday's conference.

"In order to save lives today, these pledges must be fulfilled immediately. Moreover, donors must allow flexibility in use of the funds," they added of the quake which beyond the dead and injured left up to 3 million people homeless.

"We remind donors that with winter fast approaching and life-saving resources scarce, tens of thousands of earthquake survivors face death, hunger and disease as well as prolonged displacement and homelessness," they declared.

"Serious outbreaks of acute diarrhoea and disease highlight the need for increased efforts to provide safe water and sanitation in makeshift camps, and to ensure access to health services for vulnerable populations."

The experts signing the statement were: Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Representative on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Walter Kälin; Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari; Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt; Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Vernor Muñoz Villalobos; and Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Under international human rights law, States bear the primary responsibility for protecting the human rights of their populations, in particular their access to food, water, health services, education, adequate housing, and other elements necessary for an adequate standard of living and this responsibility extends to natural disasters, they noted.

The Government of Pakistan has acknowledged this obligation but also recognizes the gaps in its capacity to provide immediate relief on the vast scale necessary and therefore has called repeatedly on the international community for assistance.

"Governments which are in a position to do so have a responsibility to provide international assistance and cooperation," they said. "We therefore urgently appeal to all Member States of the United Nations, including the donors who recently convened in Islamabad, to honour their commitments and to ensure that immediate assistance is available to help Pakistan protect the lives and meet the immediate basic humanitarian needs of desperate earthquake survivors."

In its latest update today, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that with emergency conditions persisting and unlikely to abate before spring, food and shelter are in critical need if those who endured the earthquake are to survive the rapidly approaching winter.

Some 2.3 million people will require food assistance at least through April, according to the latest emergency food security assessment conducted by WFP, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the non-governmental organization (NGO) OXFAM.

Of that total, 2.1 million people are scattered in rural areas, while another 230,000 live in the worst affected towns and this number is growing, WFP added.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.