Islamabad, 27 August 2010: Mr. William Lacy Swing, Director General International Organization for Migration--an intergovernmental organization--, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.

 

Interior Minister Senator A. Rehman Malik, Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary to the President, Mr. Tariq Iqbal Puri, Secretary Labour & Manpower and Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar were also present besides other senior officials.

 

Mr. William Lacy Swing briefed the President about various activities of IOM for the flood affected people. He said that IOM was leading the Emergency Shelter Cluster of 40 international and national aid agencies and was working closely with the National Disaster Management Authority in distribution of tents, plastic sheets and non-food items. IOM also acts as consignee for all international assistance flights bringing aid in kind to Pakistan.

 

He said that IOM would implement a number of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) to repair damaged infrastructure and provide short term employment to affected populations. Besides this, IOM was supporting a joint appeal from the UN and the NDMA to Pakistanis nationwide to donate life saving aid items for flood victims, he said. The campaign urges people to donate essentials including buckets, steel cups, and plates, saucepans, cooking pots, mosquito nets, sanitary napkins, soaps, shampoo, towel, mugs hair brushes and other non-food items.

 

The President appreciated the IOM for their prompt response in providing shelter and non-food items including tents and plastic sheeting rolls to the flood affected people. The President urged DG IOM to utilize IOM’s rich and diversified experience to support Pakistan’s efforts to distribute aid to the flood affectees in remote areas.

 

The President said that the unprecedented floods have caused great damage in terms of human as well as infrastructural losses. The President said that the Government has mobilised all its resources to provide rescue and relief in the affected areas. However, the scale of challenge was beyond the capacity of any developing or even developed nation to tackle alone.

 

The President also thanked United Nation and said that the UN Secretary General’s visit to the flood affected areas and his passionate appeal during the special Plenary Meeting of UN General Assembly has helped in creating awareness about the devastation caused by the flood. He also appreciated the launch of US$460 million flash appeal by the UN for relief and immediate recovery.

 

The President also thanked the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for agreeing to undertake a damage needs assessment. He said that Pakistan would need help from UN and other international relief organizations as well as friendly governments in rebuilding and reconstruction phase.

 

The President assured Government’s continued and full support to the organization in its pursuits.