In a tweet on Sunday, Sharif said the two-day visit by the UN’s top representative is critical to raising awareness of the human tragedy and global support Pakistan needs to overcome this challenge.
Guterres visited flood-ravaged areas, which washed away homes, roads, railways, bridges, livestock and crops, and called for more international financial support at the end of a two-day trip to raise awareness of the catastrophe caused by record monsoon rains and melting of glaciers in the mountains, reported Radio Pakistan.
The UN Secretary-General concluded his two-day visit on Saturday in solidarity with the people of the country and in addition to high-level meetings, briefings and interactions with the displaced, UN representatives, civil society and the media of communication, visited the areas affected by the floods.
The UN chief called on the international community to increase support for the Pakistani people.
“We will continue to strongly advocate for solutions at the upcoming IMF and World Bank meetings, as well as at the G-20 meeting,” Guterres told media at Karachi airport.
Islamabad estimates $30 billion in economic losses, with both the local government and Guterres blaming ongoing climate change for the floods.
Huge areas of Pakistan remain under water and 33 million people are affected, while hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes and health workers are concerned about the rising number of children suffering from gastroenteritis and other illnesses.
So far, 66 flights from various countries and international organizations have arrived in the country with relief products for flood victims, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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