Pakistan: in today’s GA meeting on Pakistan, the SG called the Pakistani floods a “slow-motion tsunami” and “one of the greatest tests of global solidarity” where needs are only expected to grow beyond the 15-20 million people already directly affected and in need of assistance. To date, nearly 1 million people have received a month’s food ration from the WFP and nearly the same have received emergency shelter and clean water from UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, WHO and others. However, 8 million people still need food, water and shelter and 14 million are in need of health care. In a meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi, they noted that $438 million has been disbursed (cash or in-kind) or pledged so far and 60% of the $460 million appeal for the next 90 days have been met. The SG also raised the possibility of a high-level meeting on Pakistan in September on the sidelines of the MDG Summit, followed by a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan in October in Brussels.
World Humanitarian Day: in solemn remarks this morning commemorating World Humanitarian Day and remembering the Canal Hotel bombings in Baghdad, earthquake in Haiti and flood in Pakistan, among other tragedies, the SG also bid farewell to USG Holmes, who will be leaving his tenure as USG Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator in September.