Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 20 September 2022

UNICEF

PRESS RELEASE

UNICEF Geneva Palais briefing note on the harrowing situation children face as floods continue to devastate Pakistan

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Pakistan Chief Field Officer in Balochistan, Gerida Birukila – to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

GENEVA/ISLAMABAD, 20 September 2022 – “Next week marks a month since catastrophic floods uprooted more than 3.4 million children from their homes. The violent rapids have already claimed the lives of more than 550 children. Without a significant surge in support, we fear many more children will lose their lives.

“Even after three weeks, large parts of the flood-affected areas are still submerged under water. Many of the roads and bridges have either been washed away or damaged. Thousands of families in the 81 calamity-hit districts are still cut off and desperately need support. Families have no food, clean water or medicines.

“Lack of food means a lot of the mothers are now anaemic and malnourished and have very low-weight babies.

UNICEF has been on the ground since Day 1 supporting the Government of Pakistan’s flood response. Immediately following the floods, we dispatched US$ 1 million in prepositioned supplies, with an additional US$ 3million of supplies delivered and being dispatched to the worst affected districts. We have set up 71 mobile health camps, and have set up temporary learning centres to help children cope with trauma.

“The world needs to come together and help the children in Pakistan. Our funding appeal for US$ 39 million is still less than a third funded, and the needs of children will only continue to grow. Together we can save lives by delivering lifesaving health, nutrition, WASH, protection, and education services to every child in Pakistan who needs it the most. 

#####

Notes for editors:  

Multimedia materials (photos and b-roll) are available here.

Find out more about UNICEF's response to the floods in Pakistan (Link).

Latest Pakistan Humanitarian Situation Report (Link).

About UNICEF  

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.  

Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube 

For more information, please contact:  

Pravaran Mahat, UNICEF South Asia, +977 98020 48256 / pmahat@unicef.org  

Abdul Sami Malik, UNICEF Pakistan, +92 300 855 6654 / asmalik@unicef.org

Joe English, UNICEF New York, +1 917 893 0692 / jenglish@unicef.org

UNODC

MEDIA ADVISORY

High-level Consultation of

National and Provincial Trafficking in Persons Committees

At Crystal Ballroom, Marriot Hotel Islamabad on Wednesday 21 September 2022 at 9:30 hrs.

20 August 2022, Islamabad - UNODC Country Office Pakistan in coordination with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Government of Pakistan shall be jointly organizing a single day high-level consultation of National and Provincial Trafficking in Persons (TIP) committee tomorrow on 21 September 2022 at the Crystal Ballroom, Marriott Hotel   Islamabad.

The purpose of this high-level national consultation is to provide a platform to all the relevant stakeholders to discuss the issues related to Trafficking in Persons (TIP). It will also provide an opportunity for all the committee members to meet and do deliberations around objectives of these committees. The national consultations and meetings followed by it will also serve as a platform where the committee members will be briefed on TIP, the enacted laws, and its rules, as well as the importance of monitoring and reporting systems. It is also hoped that there would be increased synergies and reduced duplication of efforts.

Honorable Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah has kindly consented to be the chief guest of the event.  Representative UNODC Dr Jeremy Mislom, Director General FIA Mohsin Hassan Butt, Chief of Mission IOM, Ms Mio Sato, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union in Pakistan H.E. Mr Thomas Seiler, will also give their remarks at the event.

Senior representatives of the FIA, UNODC, the European Union, IOM and conveners, co-conveners, and members of Punjab provincial and district level committees are invited to attend the high-level consultation.

You are cordially invited to do the  media coverage and attend the  High-level Consultation of National and Provincial TIP Committees at Crystal Ballroom, Marriot Hotel Islamabad tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September 2022 at 09:30 hrs.

For further queries please contact Ms. Rizwana Rahool, Communications Officer, UNODC Pakistan, cell: 0301 8564255, email: rizwana.rahool@un.org