New York: European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula van der Leyen met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and called for “new humanitarian aid” for flood-hit Pakistan in the coming weeks. announced.
During the meeting, the former German defense minister, who is now the head of the European Union Commission, expressed regret over the devastation and loss of life caused by the unprecedented floods in the country.
“The European Union Commission is with you. We will come forward with new humanitarian aid in the coming weeks to help the people of Pakistan,” he said in a tweet after meeting the prime minister.
I conveyed to Prime Minister of Pakistan @CMShehbaz my personal condolences for the victims of the terrible floods.⁰
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 21, 2022
The @EU_Commission is with you.
We will come forward with new humanitarian aid in the coming weeks, to support the people of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/E3kZoD4vo2
The severe flooding has affected more than 33 million of the country’s approximately 220 million people, causing more than $40 billion in damage to already fragile infrastructure.
The death toll from floods since mid-June has risen to 1,569, according to the latest figures from the country’s National Disaster Management Authority.
The Prime Minister thanked Biden for highlighting the plight of the flood victims.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also thanked US President Joe Biden for highlighting the plight of flood victims in Pakistan during his address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude in a tweet and thanked Biden for urging the world to respond quickly to help flood victims.
“Thank you to President Joe Biden for highlighting the plight of Pakistan’s flood victims and calling for an immediate response from the world, as my country faces unprecedented flood disasters. Stranded women and children to help.” Calls need to be heeded,” Shahbaz said in a tweet.
Thank you President @JoeBiden for highlighting the plight of the flood victims in Pakistan and urging the world for an immediate response, as my country is facing the ravages of unprecedented floods. The calls of stranded women & children for help need to be heeded to. #UNGA
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 22, 2022
The prime minister is currently on a visit to the United States to represent Pakistan in the 77th session of the UNGA.
Earlier, Biden made a fervent pitch for extending help to Pakistan where floods had caused huge devastation in his address to the UN General Assembly, as he announced over $2.9 billion in new assistance to address global food insecurity.
The US president was confronting no shortage of difficult issues as leaders gathered this year. The president addressed the 193-member assembly during its high-level debate when he dealt with the adverse impacts of climate change.
