UNICEF Deputy Representative met Chairman NDMA
Chitral Times Report
ISLAMABAD: Dr. Inoussa Kabore, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Pakistan called on Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik today. The UNICEF delegation sought views on aspects of key action areas of mutual cooperation and engagement during emergency response and disaster mitigation in Pakistan. Dr. Inoussa Kabore, UNICEF Deputy Representative apprised the Chairman of organization’s ongoing relief work in field of health, education, food, behavioral communication and psychological needs of children in flood-hit areas.
He discussed the possibility of exploring other areas such as information management, digital geographical mapping, rapid need assessment, community education and learning trajectories in perspective of climate change and its implication on vulnerable communities in Pakistan. Chairman NDMA lauded the relief efforts by UNICEF during recent floods and underscored the need of technology driven disaster management, preparedness plans with integrated response structure. He also informed about NDMA’s priority to chalk-out yearly ‘disaster/ risk calender’ and mapping of highly risk areas toward climate disasters for better execution of disaster management plans. The meeting ended with reaffirmation to extend the engagement on the level of technical teams for working out the modalities regarding the principally agreed priority areas.
Country Director, WFP Calls On Chairman NDMA
Chitral Times Report
ISLAMABAD: Mr. Chris Kaye, WFP’s Country Director in Pakistan called on Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik in his office at Prime Minister Secretariat today. They discussed the way-forward to address lingering food insecurity and food inflation amidst floods 2022 and food security management system, to protect vulnerable communities from grip of climate-induced disasters. Mr. Kaye highlighted WFP’s relief operation to help flood affectees through provision of food, cash, nutritional and livelihoods support in collaboration with global partners. He added that WFP has repositioned its program towards assistance of Government in helping the identification of priority areas, implementation of food chain program and establishment of facility centers along with training programs for technical staff.
Chairman NDMA acknowledged the WFP’s humanitarian interventions through logistic support, supplies of food & nutrition and urgently needed assistance in flood-ravaged areas. He agreed with Country Director’s insights that emergency assistance staves off hunger in the short-term, however, food insecurity in Pakistan can only be meaningfully addressed by adequate investment in tackling root causes and helping to build the resilience of communities at frontline of the climate crisis. At the end, both mutually agreed to continue cooperation for mapping of food-chain and protecting the most vulnerable segment with financial safety nets.
