Pakistan : Terrorist Wahabi Islamic Rep Pakistan 6

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[url="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/02/24/story_24-2-2011_pg11_4"]Pakistan facing massive future losses of life and livelihood[/url]



* UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction says Pakistan must invest in mechanisms to reduce losses from future disasters



ISLAMABAD: Pakistan faces massive future losses of lives and livelihoods by not investing now in mechanisms that mitigate the disaster risk, said Margareta Wahlström, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction on Wednesday.



Talking to the journalists, she said Pakistan was at continued risk to disasters, whether man-made or triggered by natural hazards. The damage caused by the recent floods cost Pakistan an estimated US$ 8.74 billion to US$10.85 billion approximately one-third of the country’s 2009-2010 budget, she said, adding, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have said an investment of only $27 million in disaster risk reduction mechanisms can greatly reduce losses from future disasters.



“Pakistan cannot afford to risk its future and lives of its people by being ill-prepared,” said Wahlström, who was on a five-day visit to Pakistan hosted by international aid agency Oxfam. “As Pakistan begins the task of rebuilding, political will is needed to halt the disaster spiral,” she said.



Oxfam Pakistan Director Neva Khan said, “Now is the time to build up Pakistan’s resilience to disaster. The cost of implementing safeguards pales in comparison to the damage to lives and property.” Although Pakistan’s government, civil society and aid agencies have helped many millions of people, the unprecedented scale of the disaster has meant that primarily families and communities support most of the disaster victims. Ultimately, however, it is government’s responsibility to protect its people. Government leadership is needed to implement disaster risk reduction strategies and the role of the international community is to support it, said Khan.



“The real heroes of our recent disasters are the millions of Pakistanis who stepped up to help their families and communities. Pakistan urgently needs damage mitigation strategies to lift the burden from their shoulders. Donors and the international community must ensure that resources reach those working on the ground to make disaster risk reduction a reality in Pakistan,” said Lieutenant General ® Nadeem Ahmed, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority.



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