Approximately $7.5 million in humanitarian aid has been pledged by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help those in Sindh and Balochistan who have been affected by recent flooding.
Current grants from the Foundation have been reallocated to support government efforts in search and rescue.
Mr. Christopher Elias, Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Polio Program, wrote to Ambassador Masood Khan, President of the Foundation’s Global Development, to let him know that the Foundation would fund 1,200 health camps being organized by Aga Khan University in the worst-affected flood districts.
In addition, the letter stated that the Foundation will increase its funding for midwifery care and intrapartum services at three maternity facilities that were caring for the biggest number of displaced women.
The Foundation has an active $4 million grant for the underprivileged receiving food subsidies and emergency cash transfers in flood-affected areas, which Mr. Elias shared with the Ambassador.
He sent his condolences on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the victims of the severe flooding.
The President of Global Development for the B&M Foundation stated that “this is undoubtedly a tragedy of national proportions and one which has captivated the attention of the globe.”
As he told the crowd, “Seeing the impact of the floods on your compatriots, their houses, and their fields is immensely saddening.”
Ambassador Masood Khan expressed gratitude to the Foundation for their aid at a time when Pakistanis desperately required it.
Mr. Elias praised the people of Pakistan for their resilience in the face of adversity and offered his best wishes for their continued progress as they work to restore their communities and way of life.
Ambassador Masood Khan informed Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, of the widespread destruction caused by the floods in a letter dated 26 August 2022.
The ambassador made the observation that climate change and unusual weather patterns are to blame for the floods.
It was noted that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been instrumental in helping Pakistan through its healthcare, human, and humanitarian problems.
The Ambassador mentioned the Foundation’s humanitarian aid in 2010, including the $700,000 grant, saying, “We haven’t forgotten the Foundation’s wonderful donation.”
The Ambassador wrote, “The people of Pakistan would truly appreciate your support for urgent humanitarian assistance as we are managing this calamity and working relentlessly to alleviate the sufferings.”
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
