British High Commission at the forefront of floods response in Chitral

The British High Commission has been amongst the earliest organisations to provide relief interventions, following devastating floods in Chitral…reports Asian Lite News

From July 29 to August 3, Chitral faced severe destruction caused by torrential rains, flash floods, and glacial lake outburst floods. The catastrophic events led to the obliteration of 14 drinking water supply schemes, 15 jeep-accessible bridges, 55 irrigation channels, 9 link roads, 3 school buildings, 4,000 feet of protection walls, and 20 local shops.

In response, the British High Commission utilized its presence in the region, collaborating with Concern Worldwide and the Aga Khan Foundation to deliver emergency relief and support the restoration of essential infrastructure and livelihoods.

So far, the UK has funded essential items like kitchen sets, hygiene kits, water storage containers and more for around 300 families. Partners continue to work on immediate restoration of damaged drinking water systems, the restoration of essential irrigation channels, and debris removal to re-enable access and livelihoods, UK support is expected to benefit over 20,000 people in Chitral. The UK are also considering on longer-term recovery plans for affected areas, in close coordination with government counterparts and humanitarian partners.

Chargé d’Affaires of the British High Commission, Andrew Dalgleish said that, ‘The recent floods in Chitral are devastating. Lives and livelihoods have been destroyed. The UK is here to support Pakistan. These floods are a stark reminder that there is much more to be done to improve Pakistan’s climate resilience.’

Floods have already led to 141 deaths, 266 injuries and damage to over 1,000 houses in Pakistan this year. Climate change is a priority for the UK Government. During the devastating floods of 2022, the UK helped over 2.3 million people, dedicating a total of £39 million in UK aid. The British public mobilised, and raised £41.5m as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. Support included emergency cash assistance, shelter kits, nutritional support, learning kits and infrastructure repair.

The UK’s focus is on improving Pakistan’s climate resilience long-term, rather than purely responding to disasters. The UK has already helped 1.5 million people improve their resilience to extreme climate events, and aims to support a further 3 million people in the next 4-5 years.

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