08/09/2010 Bureau
Strasbourg, 08.09.2010 – The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today called on Council of Europe member states to shoulder their humanitarian responsibilities following the floods in Pakistan:
“Over five years ago the Tsunami disaster struck Southeast Asia and the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. Earlier this year, Haiti was devastated by an earthquake. Both times, the international community, deeply shocked, reacted generously.
Again, a natural catastrophe has hit the globe in one of the areas least able to cope. While urgent humanitarian aid continues to be required by those most directly affected by the floods (including food and clean drinking water), the future challenges facing the local population in terms of the destruction of their livelihood, namely agriculture, should not be underestimated.
In its Resolution 1586 (2007) on Europe’s response to humanitarian disasters the Parliamentary Assembly has urged Europe to improve its coordination and has called on Council of Europe member states to honour the funds pledged for humanitarian assistance.
Today, while repeating these calls, the Bureau emphasises that emergency assistance needs to reach the area as quickly as possible and be co-ordinated as efficiently as possible. The generosity of governments, civil society and individuals on many occasions in the past has been outstanding. The Bureau hopes it will be matched in the response to the floods in Pakistan.”