Pakistan is working hard to address its humanitarian challenges, including resettlement of a very large number of displaced people in FATA, and has achieved solid progress in meeting their needs, a senior United Nations official has said. "In a world where so many crises are on a negative trajectory, Pakistan offers an all too rare example of positive progress," John Ging, the Head of Operations at the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told a press conference after a visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan from October 2 to 7.
He called for renewed international commitment to support Pakistan's stepped up efforts to overcome its humanitarian tasks. In contrast, he said Afghanistan was still struggling and the deteriorating security situation has complicated efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of the people.
"But Pakistan is on a positive trajectory it is turning the corner for a better future," Ging said. Ging also visited Peshawar in Pakistan, where 600,000 people displaced by military operations since 2008 have returned to their villages this year. The Government of Pakistan has shown strong leadership in this operation, giving more than $286 million - the largest of the contributions - in food and cash to support families returning to areas devastated by conflict, Ging said, adding that there was still a gap of $199 million to UN appeal for funds. "Supporting the (Pakistan) Government to help people rebuild their lives in areas where fighting has ended is critical to building a stable and prosperous future for the country."
Reflecting on the international responsibility to support Pakistan, Ging said, "We must acknowledge that Pakistan generously hosts more than 1.5 million refugees, the second largest refugee population of any country on earth. The country also disproportionately suffers the impacts of climate change, with 1.6 million people affected by floods this year." Ging noted that Pakistan's National Disaster Management Agency has developed into a "world class institution "over the last decade, incorporating international best practices.
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