China pledges additional aid of $100 million for flood victims in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: China is pledging an additional $100 million to continue supporting Pakistan’s recovery efforts from the devastating 2022 floods, announced Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), while attending the International Conference on Climate-Resilient Pakistan held in Geneva, according to China Economic Net (CEN).

Officials from some 40 countries as well as private donors and international financial institutions are gathering for a meeting in Geneva on January 9 as Islamabad seeks help covering around half of a total recovery bill of $16.3 billion.

This funding reinforces China’s commitment to the Pakistani people and will help address the climate crisis.

When coupled with the nearly $200 million in flood relief provided before from the Chinese government, this brings the total China commitment to date to nearly $300 million.

Also, China will help Pakistan train 1,000 technicians and officials in disaster prevention and reduction from 2023 to 2025, Luo added.

Luo noted that China can really empathize with Pakistan, which is suffering from floods unseen in several decades. China has embarked on post-disaster reconstruction projects such as smart hydrology, shelter and mobile medical vehicles. China will continue to provide real-time weather and disaster early warning services and share post-disaster reconstruction experience with Pakistan, he pinpointed.

Responding to this, Pakistani Prime Minister noted in his Twitter account that the world has witnessed how nations can come together in a show of solidarity to create a model of a “win-win partnership” to lift suffering humanity out of tragedy. “I was deeply moved by the compassion on display at Geneva Conference. Together we will rebuild lives and hopes,” he added.

Pakistan said that donors had committed to giving more than $8 billion to help it recover from last year’s devastating floods in what is seen as a major test for those who pay for climate disasters.

Pakistani Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb sent a tweet saying that pledges had reached $8.57 billion – more than the $8bn it had initially sought. The Pakistani government will provide $8bn from its own funds towards the “resilient Pakistan” programme.

Water is still receding from the floods caused by monsoon rains and melting glaciers which killed at least 1,700 people and displaced around 8 million in Pakistan.