The Gates Foundation, established by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has pledged $1 million in aid to Pakistan flood victims.
According to details surfaced on Wednesday, the foundation will provide this support through the World Health Organization (WHO), which will allocate the funds to deliver medical assistance to 465,000 affected individuals across 33 flood-affected districts in all four provinces.
WHO Pakistan representative Dr Daping Luo expressed gratitude to the Gates Foundation for the timely aid. He emphasised that WHO remains committed to protecting human lives in Pakistan. Dr Luo recently visited flood-hit areas and highlighted the intensifying monsoon rains linked to climate change, which have led to a sharp increase in natural disasters.
Between June 26 and August 27, Pakistan recorded 802 deaths and over 1,000 injuries due to floods and heavy rains. More than 5,500 livestock have perished nationwide. The floods have destroyed 7,465 houses, 658 kilometres of roads, 238 bridges, and seven health centres, while 89 other centres sustained damage. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered the most severe devastation.
In a related development, the United Nations has announced $600,000 in aid for flood relief in Pakistan. UN's relief chief Tom Fletcher released the funds to support ongoing relief efforts, according to a UN spokesperson. Recent floods and rains have caused 400 deaths and left over 190 injured across Pakistan.
