(MENAFN) Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, is currently in flood-devastated Pakistan and claims to have "never seen climate carnage" on such a massive scale, blaming wealthier nations for their role in the destruction.
Flooding that submerged nearly one-third of Pakistan and destroyed crops in a nation that had been dealing with high inflation and a balance of payment crisis resulted in nearly 1,400 fatalities and more than a million people becoming homeless.
“I have seen many humanitarian disasters in the world, but I have never seen climate carnage on this scale,” Guterres stated on Saturday in the port city of Karachi on his second day of a trip in Pakistan.
He also added, “I have simply no words to describe what I have seen today.”
The melting glaciers and unprecedented monsoon rains that started in June submerged more than a third of Pakistan and severely damaged homes, roads, bridges, rail networks, livestock, and crops.
While independent analysts place the figure between $15 billion and $20 billion and worry it may rise further, the minister of finance, Miftah Ismail, estimated the total loss at $10 billion despite the ongoing economic crisis.
MENAFN12092022000045011137ID1104846873
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.