At an international conference in Geneva, Germany pledged an additional €84 million to its Climate & Energy Initiative in Pakistan! This assistance is in addition to the €99 million already pledged. Germany will continue to work with the people and government of Pakistan to build a resilient Pakistan.
Germany had already set aside 67 million euros for infrastructure reconstruction and flood relief, but the new funds will be used primarily to assist Pakistan in adapting to the effects of climate change, according to the development ministry. This includes, for example, the construction of rainwater retention basins and drainage systems to prevent flooding in the event of future heavy rainfall. “The consequences of climate change have manifested themselves in a devastating way in Pakistan over the past year: scorching heat and drought in the spring were followed by severe flooding that completely destroyed parts of the country and deprived millions of people of their livelihoods,” said Jochen Flasbarth, state secretary. “This is a crisis that Pakistan cannot solve on its own,” he added.
The heavy rains and floods that hit Pakistan in the summer of 2022 killed 1,700 people, according to Pakistan’s prime minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in an op-ed for The Guardian in which he called for more international assistance. At today’s support conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that while Europe was quick to react and support Pakistan last year, “more support is required.” She stated that the EU would provide 500 million euros for reconstruction efforts, including 172 million euros for humanitarian assistance.
