The Damage Need Assessment (DNA) report compiled by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank would be presented to the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) within next 4-5 days after which final decision regarding its launch would be taken. Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Dr Zafar Iqbal said while responding to a question asked by Business Recorder during the launch of Floods 2011 Early Framework here on Tuesday.
Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Co-ordinator and Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Pakistan and Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Planning and Development were also present on the occasion. Dr Zafar said that to provide life insurance, food security, shelter, protection to livestock and agriculture are our priorities in flood-affected areas. "NDMA in collaboration with UN, and the provincial (Sindh and Balochistan) governments has been making a tireless effort to provide relief to the flood-affected people", the Chairman added. He claimed that the government had lack of financial resources to make essential arrangements to avoid any natural disaster like flood in future.
The government and the UN jointly launched the Floods 2011 Early Recovery Framework requesting US $440 million for the restoration of livelihoods, support for food security, basic social services, shelter, community infrastructure, health, nutrition, water and sanitation.
"The United Nations Agencies, foreign governments, donors, National and International NGOs, and private philanthropy all worked hand in glove with the National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities and other relevant government agencies, while responding to immense needs in the affected areas," expressed Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.
During the early recovery phase, the government, the United Nations and its partners will support communities by engaging in planning and exploring solutions to reduce the devastating impact of the 2011 floods, and helping communities to quickly return to a normal life pattern, while adopting measures for safer and more resilient living with better preparation to meet the event of a disaster. The government is committed to ensure transparency in utilisation of funds in all activities related to the framework, while at the same time will facilitate the international and humanitarian community for smooth execution of the framework.
"The Floods Early Recovery Framework is a collaborative effort of the government, the UN and civil society to bridge relief to recovery. It is critical that the international community support this effort to make communities safer, more resilient, and better prepared in the event of possible future flooding and other disasters," said Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Co-ordinator and Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Pakistan.