International Telecommunications Union (ITU) secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Tour'e has issued a call for aid for the flood-affected victims in Pakistan.
ITU's emergency telecommunications team, working with the Pakistani government, is aiming to rehabilitate telecommunications infrastructure, which is now inoperative in the flood-stricken parts of the country.
According to the ITU, the floods ravaging Pakistan are the worst in living memory.
“Over 15 million people have been displaced and vast tracts of fertile agricultural land have been inundated, with many facing the prospect of a continuing battle with water-borne diseases and malnutrition,” says Sanjay Acharya, chief of media relations and public information at ITU.
“The livelihoods of several millions have been affected with severe long-term repercussions on the economic and social life of the country.”
Flash floods triggered by torrential rains in several parts of Pakistan have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate since late July this year.
Organisations such as Unicef and the United Nations (UN) have pledged support so far.
“ITU stands in utmost solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of need and I join UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in urging our stakeholders to respond generously to meet the urgent demand for relief and rehabilitation efforts,” says Tour'e.
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