Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 12 September 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE ON UNITED NATIONS

DAY FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

12 September 2022

In this era of unprecedented challenge and upheaval, solutions lie in solidarity.

South-South and triangular cooperation are critical for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate disruption, address the global health crisis, including COVID-19 recovery, and achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

It is important that Southern-led development solutions are shared far and wide.

South-South and triangular cooperation must play an ever-increasing role in resolving our common challenges. 

But that does not absolve the wealthier nations of their responsibilities to work constructively with the developing world, especially to reduce growing inequalities between and within nations.

As we commemorate the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation,

I encourage all nations and communities to redouble cooperation and build bridges to achieve an equitable and sustainable future for all.

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UNDP

MEDIA ADVISORY

To Build Forward Better, Recovery and Reconstruction must be Climate Resilient

Islamabad, 12 September 2022—UNDP Pakistan’s Resident Representative Knut Ostby is speaking tomorrow at the Geneva Press Briefing on the ongoing flood situation in Pakistan, UNDP’s role, and efforts required to help Pakistan Build Forward Better.

The briefing will be on Tuesday, 13 September 2022, between 1:30-2:30 pm (PST). The link will be shared tomorrow after the briefing.

Background:

The 2022 floods are a climate disaster on massive scale. One third of the country is submerged. Over 1,400 lives were lost. 33 million people have been affected; millions of people are homeless.

Half of all districts in Pakistan are reporting impact. 1.7 million houses were reportedly damaged or destroyed. Around 3.6 million acres of crops and orchards have also been affected to date.

This is clearly a disaster caused by climate change. Along with the humanitarian support, the recovery must start now, and recovery and reconstruction must be climate-smart.

The priority is to create the conditions to give people the means to restore their livelihoods so that they can get back on their feet. UNDP has already started working in this space, liaising with partners and the Government of Pakistan on the needs assessment. For early recovery, UNDP is also pivoting its existing programming.

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For further information, please reach out:

Tabindah Anwar,

Communications Associate,

UNDP Pakistan 

tabindah.anwar@undp.org