A/77/PV.15 General Assembly

Before we proceed to take action on the draft resolution, I should like to remind members that the Assembly will hold a debate on this item on 6 December as well. Statement by the President

The theme of the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly is “Solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science”. Every day in this Hall should be about solutions, and today we face a litmus test. It is a litmus test of solidarity on the heels of an immense disaster that has struck one of our Member States. Pakistan is in the midst of a climate catastrophe — the worst flood in the country’s recent history. As I did at the opening of the seventy-seventh session, I stand today in solidarity with the people and the Government of Pakistan. In its hardest-hit areas, devastating torrents washed away hundreds of villages. The lives of 33 million people have been affected, and 6.4 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The flooding left at least 3.4 million children in need of life-saving help. Those are not numbers — they are lives. The damage has been enormous. More than 9 million acres of crops have been wiped out and 1 million heads of livestock were drowned. The food situation in the flood-affected parts of the country is already an undeclared emergency. The International Organization for Migration and its partners are providing emergency shelter to many of the tens of millions of people who have been displaced from their homes. It is a tragedy of epic proportions. Without immediate interventions, its consequences will take us down a path of permanent emergency. The General Assembly is committed to leaving no one behind. Only a few weeks ago, world leaders reaffirmed that much. In times of crisis, honouring that commitment is vital. I ask the Assembly: can we gather in solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their time of need? We know what is required. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has provided a response plan. Pakistan has come to the General Assembly in a show of great confidence in the Organization. I commend their leadership for putting forward a proposal that seeks solutions through solidarity. Time is of the essence. The price we are paying for delays rises each day. Now more than ever, international relief efforts must also focus on transformative solutions. Adaptation and resilience are the seeds of sustainability. Droughts and rains will return. But when they do, we should all be better prepared. Let us make use of science and solidarity so as to enhance our crisis-management capabilities. The times are hard, but I am confident that we can rebuild better. And to do that, we must rebuild together. I now give the floor to His Excellency Secretary- General António Guterres.

The people of Pakistan are the victims of a grim calculus of climate injustice. Pakistan is responsible for less than 1 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, yet it is paying a supersized price for man-made climate change. One month ago, I travelled there and saw a level of climate carnage beyond imagination: flood waters covering a land mass three times the total area of my own country, Portugal. Many have lost everything: their homes, their livestock, their crops, their futures. Lives were washed away. The most vulnerable of the vulnerable — children — accounted for fully one third of all deaths and injuries. While the rains may have ceased and the water is beginning to recede, many areas in the south of Pakistan remain inundated. And as winter approaches in Pakistan, even darker clouds loom. The situation is going from bad to worse. Pakistan is on the verge of a public health disaster. The risk of a coronavirus disease outbreak, malaria and dengue fever threaten to claim far more lives than the floods. Nearly 1,500 health facilities have been devastated, greatly hindering the ability to detect and respond to outbreaks. More than 2 million homes were damaged or destroyed. That is more than 2 million families that have lost their possessions. Many have no shelter as winter approaches. At the same time, the scale of crop and livestock destruction is creating a food crisis today and putting the planting season in jeopardy tomorrow. Severe hunger is spiking. Malnutrition among children and lactating women is rising, and the number of children out of school is obviously growing. Heartache and hardship — especially for women and girls — is mounting. More than 50 million people could be pushed into poverty. For so many with so little, the effects of the floods will be felt not just for days or even months. Those cascading calamities in Pakistan could linger for years to come. Massive needs require massive support. We are working with the Government of Pakistan to convene a pledging conference to bring together donors at the highest level to provide concrete support for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. I urge donor countries, international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations, along with the private sector and civil society, to fully support those efforts. Meanwhile, the United Nations has launched the Pakistan Floods Response Plan 2022. The revised plan now calls for $816 million — a surge of $656 million from the initial appeal — to respond to the most urgent needs through next May. But that pales in comparison to what is needed on every front, including to provide food, water, sanitation, shelter, emergency education, protection and health support. Direct support for the Government of Pakistan — massive direct support for the Government of Pakistan — is absolutely essential. The central question remains the climate crisis. The calendar is fast moving forward to the twenty- seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27), but the world is moving backwards. Greenhouse-gas emissions are rising along with climate calamities. COP 27 must be the place where those trends are reversed. COP 27 must be the place for taking serious action on loss and damage. COP 27 must be the place for achieving clarity on vital funding for adaptation and resilience. In particular, wealthier countries bear a moral responsibility to help places such as Pakistan to recover, adapt and build resilience to disasters that have been supercharged by the climate crisis. Let us not forget: 80 per cent of the emissions driving that type of climate destruction are from the Group of 20 countries. One third of Pakistan was deluged by this latest climate crisis. Many small island developing States face the very real prospect of their entire homelands being submerged. Communities everywhere are looking down the barrel of climate-driven destruction. We must act, and we must act now. When I visited Pakistan, I saw the best of humankind. I saw the immense generosity and solidarity of neighbours and strangers helping one another. I saw people who put themselves at risk and lost all their worldly possessions to rescue others. I saw people providing what little they had to share with a person in need. But I also saw the future we might all face. Today it is Pakistan; tomorrow it could be any of our countries and communities. Climate chaos is knocking on everyone’s door right now. We must step up and answer the call for the people of Pakistan. These global crises demand global solidarity and a global response.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.3.

On behalf of the 145 co-sponsors, I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.3, entitled “Solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Pakistan and strengthening of emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the wake of the recent devastating floods”, which has been submitted sub-item (a) of agenda item 69. I would first like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting of the General Assembly so promptly in order to consider draft resolution A/77/L.3, which expresses solidarity with Pakistan. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for being here with us today, as he has been with Pakistan from the outset of this epic disaster. His timely visit to Pakistan to personally convey his solidarity, meet the victims, consult our leadership and call for massive assistance to Pakistan, as he has done today, has captured the hearts of the Pakistani people. Indeed, if a referendum were held in Pakistan, the Secretary-General would receive not 99 per cent but 100 per cent support. Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, even though our carbon emissions represent less than 1 per cent of the global total. In the last two decades, recurrent spells of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, glacial lake outbursts, cyclones and heat waves, have taken a heavy toll of both life and property and have adversely affected Pakistan’s economic growth. The super-flood of 2010, for instance, killed 1,600 people, inundated an area of 38,000 square kilometres and caused about $10 billion of damage. Similarly, the heat wave of June 2015 killed more than 1,200 people in Karachi. In the first half of this year, Pakistan faced forest fires, heat waves, drought conditions and glacial lake outbursts. The heat wave from March to May produced the highest temperatures in the world and triggered more than 89 forest fires in Balochistan and Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, more than 30 glacial lake outbursts in the northern areas and drought in Sindh and Balochistan. Then came the rain — what the Secretary-General has called a “monsoon on steroids”. As in Noah’s legend, rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights, producing five times the highest amount of rainfall in our recorded history, especially in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, where monsoon rains are usually sparse and intermittent, causing massive flash floods and hill torrents in Balochistan, Sindh and South Punjab and inundating most of the entire province of Sindh. One third of the country was under water — an area the size of the United Kingdom or the state of Colorado in the United States or, as the Secretary-General mentioned, three times the size of Portugal. The toll taken has been tremendous. More than 1,700 people lost their lives and 13,000 were injured, while 33 million people, including 16 million children, are estimated to have been affected by the heavy rainfall. More than 1 million homes, 13,000 kilometres of national highways, 400 bridges and 5.5 million acres of crops were damaged. The floods displaced at least 7.9 million people, of whom some 600,000 are living in relief camps. Nearly 800,000 internal refugees are estimated to be hosted in more than 40 calamity- notified districts, including 175,000 women, 190,000 girls and 200,000 boys. The total estimated damage caused by this calamity amounts to $32 billion  — 10 per cent of Pakistan’s gross domestic product. The World Bank estimates that, as a direct consequence of the floods, the national poverty rate may increase by 4.5 to 7 percentage points, pushing an estimated 9.9 million to 15 million people into poverty and intensifying the depth and severity of poverty for already poor households. The entire Pakistani nation has responded heroically to this historic calamity, as the Secretary- General himself attested. Pakistanis, even those who do not have much themselves, have come to the aid of their compatriots. The Government has provided $245 million in cash support to 2.2 million households and distributed hundreds of thousands of tents, food, water and medicines to the destitute and displaced. All three armed services have helped to rescue thousands of people, with 50 helicopters, thousands of boats and rescue teams working round the clock to save lives and bring relief. The National Flood Response and Coordination Centre, chaired by the Prime Minister, has been established to synergize all disaster management actions  — search and rescue, logistics, engineering support, procurement of relief supplies and coordination of internal and external assistance. The Government and the people of Pakistan are most grateful for the generous support we have received from Governments, international development institutions, civil society organizations, philanthropists and individuals around the world. The United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), volunteers, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other international partners have joined in supporting the national relief and recovery effort. Their solidarity and support will not be forgotten. The United Nations was among the first responders. The Secretary-General and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) joined the Pakistan Government in issuing the first flash appeal for $160 million on 30 August, based on preliminary loss and damage reports. However, since that flash appeal the impacts of the floods have vastly expanded, particularly in Sindh, which was almost completely inundated. Accordingly, a revised Floods Response Plan was launched with OCHA three days ago in Geneva in a scaled-up flash appeal for $811 million for the next nine months. Under that revised plan, eight key sectors  — education, food security and agriculture, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, water and sanitation and logistics — have been prioritized. One key and immediate challenge is the threat posed by water-borne diseases such as dengue fever, cholera and malaria. With many health clinics destroyed and national medical teams overstretched, my Government has requested our partners to deploy medical teams to stave off the threat of pestilence. We are still in the phase of relief and recovery, but we have commenced preparation for national rehabilitation and reconstruction. A national team, led by the Planning Minister, together with a core team of the World Bank, the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank and the European Union, has completed a post-disaster needs assessment. It has identified as primary sectors the revival of livelihoods and agriculture, the reconstruction of private housing and the redesign, rehabilitation and reconstruction of public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, and community infrastructure, especially education and health facilities. The assessment will be presented at this week’s meeting of the World Bank. We hope it will evoke a positive response from all our international and bilateral partners. The assessment will then become the basis for a comprehensive national rehabilitation and reconstruction plan of the Government of Pakistan, which we hope to present to the pledging conference envisaged in draft resolution A/77/L.3. Our aim will be to reconstruct both damaged infrastructure and future infrastructure in a way that provides resilience to floods, heat, drought and the melting of our 7,200 glaciers  — the largest ice formation outside the polar regions. We know that climate change has happened and is happening — change to which Pakistan contributed almost nothing yet the consequences of which it must counter. We seek humanitarian solidarity, but we also seek climate justice. The floods disaster that has devastated Pakistan was predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and by our Secretary-General. Yet we have failed to halt global warming. We are going the opposite way. Also, we have failed to help vulnerable countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. Countries like Pakistan, which confront such climate-induced disasters, should not be left to fend for themselves, dependent on the resilience of their suffering and poor people or the generosity and charity of friends. We must construct global mechanisms that can enable climate-struck countries to access resources to mitigate the impacts of the ever-more frequent and more intense climate disasters and to recover quickly from such disasters. We hope that the forthcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Egypt will involve agreement on such solutions through solidarity, as the President has noted. Draft resolution A/77/L.3 urges the international community to extend its full support and assistance to the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the floods and to meet the resulting medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs. It notes the Secretary-General’s call for massive assistance to Pakistan and my Prime Minister’s call for climate justice. The draft resolution welcomes the proposed convening of a pledging conference to generate assistance and commitments for the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in the disaster-stricken areas. It also calls upon United Nations entities, in accordance with their respective mandates, to continue to support the Government of Pakistan in the preparation of a climate-resilient reconstruction that responds to national priorities and development needs and is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. That plan is to be presented at the pledging conference. We look forward to the support of the entire United Nations system to develop such a plan through the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. We also hope that the Sustainable Development Group Joint Fund can provide support in the development and implementation of the plan. The draft resolution also requests the Secretary- General to provide an update on its implementation in the second quarter of 2023 and to provide a full report to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session. We trust that the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and the relevant Executive Boards will review progress at all levels to ensure a robust follow-up to the draft resolution. Finally, I would like to thank all Member States for their constructive engagement in the consultations on the draft resolution. We would like to also express our special gratitude to all those Member States that co-sponsored the draft resolution. We trust that the General Assembly will adopt draft resolution A/77/L.3 by consensus.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/77/L.3, entitled “Solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Pakistan and strengthening of emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the wake of the recent devastating floods”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

The present statement is made in the context of rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and will also be distributed to all Member States. The request contained in paragraph 12 of draft resolution A/77/L.3 would entail one pre-session document with a word count of 8,500 words in 2023 to be made available in all official languages. That would constitute an addition to the documentation workload for the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management in 2023, and related non-recurrent resource requirements are estimated at $26,400. However, the Department will make every effort to implement the request within existing capacities. In paragraph 8 of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would welcome the proposed convening of the pledging conference to be held at the earliest date. If and when the modalities of the pledging conference are included in a subsequent draft resolution, the Secretary- General would assess the implications and advise the General Assembly in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Accordingly, should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/77/L.3, no additional requirements would arise under the programme budget for 2023.

We will now take action on draft resolution A/77/L.3. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of draft resolution A/77/L.3 and in addition to the delegations listed in the document, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/77/L.3: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, the Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Czechia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/77/L.3?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by representatives from their seats.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in support of resolution 77/1, adopted today. CARICOM expresses its sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who perished and are still suffering and grieving, and we extend our support to the people and the Government of Pakistan following the catastrophic flooding. CARICOM Member States have noted the loss of life and the extent of the destruction and the displacement of people in Pakistan. There is an urgent need to provide life-saving and disaster and post-disaster management and redevelopment resources for people and social infrastructure, as well as the restoration of normal conditions for the population. The severity of the disruption demonstrates planetary instability. The response to the disruption demonstrates the systemic flaws in both the global financial architecture and the infrastructure gaps in response to vulnerable States in crisis. Together with reference to the physical resources necessary for reconstituting functioning communities, the resolution is sensitive to the dynamics of seeking to sustain international commitment to the long- term circumstances of post-disaster redevelopment. CARICOM recognizes that the will of the international community is as vital as funding and resource capacity in these challenging times worldwide. CARICOM submits that the reference to the words “timely, adequate, effective, coherent and coordinated” in the resolution, with regard to immediate humanitarian relief, applies with equal force to financial action and policy for a sustainable global commons. We therefore take cognizance of the resolution’s kinship with small island developing States’ advocacy for adaptation planning, among other climate action initiatives. CARICOM also supports the resolution’s proposal to convene a pledging conference to generate assistance and commitments for the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in disaster-stricken areas. Together with Pakistan, CARICOM urges that the pledges made at the conference be honoured in a timely manner. It is encouraging that resolution 77/1 received the co-sponsorship of most Member States. Like resolutions adopted previously under similar agenda items, it adds to the advocacy for transforming global governance architecture to be responsive to the realities of all peoples and our planet. CARICOM regards the adoption of resolution 77/1 as a reinforcement of the value of the multilateral system. Small island developing States and other developing States rely on the adherence of all States to international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, equity and justice for our survival, as espoused in the resolution. CARICOM is therefore pleased to refer to the continued high-level advocacy of Secretary-General António Guterres, as identified in the resolution, on behalf of climate action and humanitarian relief and development causes. CARICOM therefore also reiterates that we stand in solidarity with and support the people and the Government of Pakistan.

I thank Ambassador Akram for the very compelling picture he painted for all of us this morning. It certainly touches us all. I have had the occasion to visit his beautiful country, and I can only imagine what a devastating moment this is. Our sympathies are with him. The United States stands with the people of Pakistan affected by the severe flooding. We are deeply saddened by the massive scope of the disaster — nearly 8 million people displaced, 2 million homes destroyed and millions of acres of crops washed away. The loss of loved ones, livelihoods, homes, hospitals and critical infrastructure throughout Pakistan is tragic and, as always, women and girls have been most acutely affected. United States Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power saw the devastation at first hand when she travelled to Pakistan last month and she visited flood-affected areas and discussed efforts to help those most impacted. Administrator Power met with the Secretary-General and Prime Minister Sharif to discuss the international response and ways the global community can provide timely and essential support. According to the United Nations funding appeal, a total of $816 million is now needed to ensure food security, respond to potential outbreaks of disease and provide protection and livelihoods. That total is more than five times greater than the initial appeal of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and reflects the devastating impacts of the tragedy. The United States Government has provided more than $67 million in flood relief and humanitarian assistance support to Pakistan this year. That funding is providing food, drinking water, nutrition, sanitation, shelter and other aid to millions of people in need. We are also supporting logistics and coordination efforts, in close collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, to ensure that humanitarian organizations can rapidly scale up programming and provide unimpeded assistance to all those in need. We urge other Member States to do the same. The United States is proud to co-sponsor resolution  77/1, adopted today. We support the resolution’s longer-term focus on building resilience through climate mitigation and adaptation and disaster- risk-reduction efforts. Incorporating disaster risk reduction into humanitarian and development assistance strengthens the ability of people and Governments to cope during crises, can protect economic and development gains and helps secure progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The climate crisis we face is profound, and the consequences of inaction would be cataclysmic. As the President said, we must search for solutions here every day. As we look to the upcoming twenty- seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, let us keep in mind that climate change has no borders, and we must address its devastating impacts.

Thailand would like to express its sincere condolences to, and solidarity with, the Government and the people of Pakistan as they deal with the tragic impact in terms of the lives lost and the livelihoods destroyed by Pakistan’s worst floods in decades. May we take this opportunity to commend the efforts of the Government of Pakistan, the United Nations system, humanitarian and front-line workers, civil society organizations and local communities in responding to the disaster by providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. Thailand is proud to co-sponsor resolution 77/1, which was just adopted. Thailand also played a small part in contributing to alleviating the impacts of the floods, with donations of more than 7 million baht from the Thai Flood Ministry and more than 14 million Thai baht from civil society organizations in Thailand. More challenges remain, as mentioned by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan, ranging from addressing the remaining public health issues to promoting recovery. Thailand therefore urges the international community and relevant stakeholders to continue to support Pakistan in its relief and recovery efforts, including through the pledging conference, as noted in the resolution. And as the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General noted, we will need to do more now to address the challenge of climate change and redress the problem of climate vulnerability. The twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held at Sharm El-Sheikh, is therefore a critical opportunity to take urgent action in that regard. As a country that is grieving from its own recent tragedy at a childcare facility that took the lives of dozens of people, most of them children, and as a country that is also currently experiencing floods in many places, Thailand can empathize with the grief and hardship that many families in Pakistan must be feeling from this natural disaster. From such tragedies, it is therefore our continuing hope that we as a family of nations can draw renewed strength and faith in the spirit of humanitarianism and compassion in order to not only overcome the present disaster challenges but also prepare better for future ones.

At the outset, my country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expresses its solidarity with the people and the Government of the sisterly Republic of Pakistan in the wake of the heavy rains, floods and deluges that have left unprecedented numbers of dead, injured and missing people. We also convey our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and the Government of Pakistan for that painful event, and we wish all those injured a rapid recovery. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was among the first States to assist the brotherly Pakistani people in tackling the devastating consequences of this disaster, in close coordination with the Government of Pakistan. My country, represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, responded immediately. The Centre is currently operating an air bridge that delivers food, medication and shelters with 10 planes in order to provide assistance to 35,000 beneficiaries. We are also preparing the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance in the amount of more than $10 million to assist more than 700,000 beneficiaries. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia spares no effort to address climate change. That is embodied in our national plans and priorities. We emphasize that dealing with such disasters and their humanitarian implications requires a swift response and cooperation among all members of the international community. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its brotherly people. We urge the international community, in particular donor countries, to provide all humanitarian assistance and support to Pakistan in support of a rapid recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

At the outset, let me express our sincere condolences and sympathies to the Government and the people of Pakistan on the massive loss of life caused by the devastating floods across vast areas of the country. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims and families who lost loved ones, as well as those injured and affected. Uzbekistan joined the co-sponsors of resolution 77/1 because we believe that the international community should stand united with the Government and the people of Pakistan in overcoming the catastrophic impacts of unprecedented floods, providing emergency relief, reconstructing the destroyed areas and rehabilitating the affected communities. It is our moral duty and obligation. I would like to note that, since this natural disaster occurred, the Government of Uzbekistan has provided much-needed emergency relief to the affected people of Pakistan, both in its national capacity and in close collaboration with United Nations specialized agencies. In the first days of the severe floods, Uzbekistan delivered assistance to Pakistan consisting of foodstuffs, warm blankets and other necessities. In addition, on 29 September, Uzbekistan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) sent their first-ever joint airlift of humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, which transported more than 15 tons of UNHCR refugee housing units to provide temporary shelter to those whose homes have been destroyed. Uzbekistan and UNHCR continue to support relief efforts in flood-hit parts of Pakistan where the situation remains dire. The recently established international multifunctional transport and logistic hub for humanitarian assistance in the Uzbekistan city of Termez served as one of the main transfer points for delivering humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. We encourage all Member States, international donors and philanthropic organizations to render assistance to help alleviate the disastrous impacts of the floods in Pakistan.

The Government of Sri Lanka and its people stand in solidarity with the Government and the people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan affected by the unprecedented floods, which caused immeasurable damage to the lives and property of our fraternal country in South Asia. That unfortunate incident highlights the increasing adverse impacts of climate change, especially in climate-vulnerable countries. In that context, Sri Lanka underlines the need for continued immediate humanitarian relief for those affected, while supporting rehabilitation, reconstruction and development efforts and cooperation and disaster-risk reduction. We call on the United Nations system and the international community to extend their continued assistance in both the short and long terms in order to ensure a sustainable recovery. It must be appreciated that, when countries have to face such natural disasters, the international financial system does not have an effective mechanism to respond rapidly and ensure that countries are assisted to recover from their difficulties. On the contrary, countries that face such calamities are compelled more often than not to borrow under stringent, unsustainable conditions that lead to the situation of having to face a potential death trap. It is that financial system that the Secretary-General describes as being morally bankrupt, since the system exploits the situation to its advantage. Sri Lanka therefore particularly welcomes the provisions of resolution 77/1 that call for a pledging conference to generate assistance, the scaling up of humanitarian assistance and the support of the United Nations system for the Pakistan Government in the preparation of a climate-resilient reconstruction plan, while recognizing the importance of climate financing for supporting mitigation and adaptation measures. It is true that situations of disaster have another side to them — for humankind to respond with great resilience. Given that it is in the true character of human nature to rise to the mastery of the environment, we are sure that the resilience and strength of the people of Pakistan will manifest itself in facing this daunting challenge. It is therefore the moral duty of the international community to assist in substantial measure. In that context, Sri Lanka was pleased to co-sponsor this timely resolution, which is for the benefit of the people of Pakistan and sets a healthy precedent for assisting countries that face similar circumstances.

At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the victims of the recent floods in the country and to wish all those who have been injured a rapid recovery. Egypt welcomes the adoption of resolution 77/1 and the message it sends. The resolution stresses the importance of promoting international cooperation in the face of the economic, social and environmental consequences of climate change and the resulting loss of life and increased displacement, as well as the other negative consequences of climate change for food security, public health and basic services. The adoption of resolution 77/1 reaffirms the urgent need to swiftly implement initiatives and commitments on addressing the effects of climate change at all levels and to renew international commitments to make relevant efforts, including through the provision of means of implementation, above all for financing and building the capacity to adapt and deal with the losses and damage resulting from climate change, while providing adequate financing for climate action and doubling the funds available for adaptation. Egypt, as President of the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, once again calls for the implementation of our initiatives and commitments and the prompt provision of assistance to developing countries in their efforts to face the devastating consequences of climate change and promote the principles of equity and shared responsibilities but with different burdens. Egypt stresses that it will spare no effort to provide an environment conducive to achieving tangible results at the Conference, which will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November.

At the outset, I would like to express the deep sympathy of Azerbaijan with the Government and the people of brotherly Pakistan concerning the massive scale of damage and huge loss of life, infrastructure and livelihoods caused by the deadly floods induced by torrential monsoon rains. Azerbaijan co-sponsored resolution 77/1, just adopted with full solidarity. Our condolences go to those who have lost family and loved ones in these tragic moments. The global climate crisis contributed to that terrible disaster, causing unprecedented human suffering in Pakistan. As the country responds to a devastating climate catastrophe, it is important that the resolution stresses the urgent need to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events. In that context, enhancing access to climate financing is of paramount importance for supporting mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Azerbaijan welcomes the proposed convening of a pledging conference to generate assistance and commitments for the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in the disaster- stricken areas. We would like to encourage others to add their voices to those calling for international solidarity with Pakistan in these difficult times and to support the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to access the financial resources necessary to address the immediate needs of the people affected and to plan disaster- recovery activities while adapting to the threatening impacts of climate change.

To the people of Pakistan, the victims and their families, we send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences. As the Secretary-General and Ambassador Akram said, the floods demonstrate the catastrophic effects of climate change. It hit some of the most vulnerable people in one of the world’s most at-risk countries. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Pakistani friends. The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of resolution 77/1. It is vital that the international community continue to support the people of Pakistan as they look to recover and rebuild following the disaster. In September, the United Kingdom announced $18.4 million to provide shelter and essential supplies to people across the country. That represents 10 per cent of the initial United Nations flash appeal. We are committed to working with the Government of Pakistan, international agencies and civil society to best support those in need. We welcome the work of the United Nations and the World Bank to respond quickly to their urgent needs. We encourage those organizations to work with the Government of Pakistan and the international community in a coordinated, collaborative and open manner so that support for the response and reconstruction efforts is both effective and impactful. It is also important to ensure a longer-term response to improving climate resilience, with the support of the international financial institutions. At the twenty- sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) held last year, the United Kingdom pledged more than $61 million to partner with Pakistan to fight climate change, manage water more sustainably and unlock climate investment. This is a tragedy of unprecedented proportions, which demonstrates the human impact of climate change and the need for us all to maintain momentum as we advance towards COP27. The catastrophe also serves to emphasize why the world must work hard to build greater climate resilience. That includes greater commitment to adaptation, including adaptation financing, as well as the transition to clean energy sources as quickly as possible, while committing to and delivering on an ambitious set of nationally determined contributions.

At the outset, I would like to reiterate Algeria’s full solidarity with, and support for, the people and the Government of Pakistan in the wake of the recent devastating floods in the country, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people being made homeless or displaced, particularly women and children, as well as major damage to the infrastructure that will take hard work to fix. All capacities should be mobilized to help the country overcome its ordeal. We therefore welcome the adoption of resolution 77/1, which genuinely reflects the solidarity of the entire international community with Pakistan and its commitment to provide the country with the necessary support to rapidly overcome the consequences of this natural disaster. The events in sisterly Pakistan serve to underscore once again that the devastating effects of climate change have become an unfortunate reality that we witness every day, requiring us to mobilize every effort to quickly deal with the substantial issues of climate change, particularly in the field of financing, capacity- building and technology transfer. We therefore reiterate the importance of international solidarity with Pakistan in addressing the crisis, in accordance with the needs and priorities announced by the Pakistani Government, and dealing with the urgent consequences of the floods, particularly in the fields of health, basic services and enhanced reconstruction. That will help Pakistan to prepare to address similar events in the future. The response to such crises requires collective measures to be taken by all stakeholders, including financial donors. In conclusion, we reiterate Algeria’s support to our sisterly Pakistan in these difficult times.

Indonesia is pleased to have joined others in co-sponsoring resolution 77/1. Indonesia stands ready and in solidarity with the Government and the people of Pakistan with respect to the devastating impact of the calamity. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims and others who were affected. In an expression of our solidarity and support, Indonesia has dispatched $2.2 million in emergency assistance to Pakistan. The prevalence of natural disasters has reminded us of the critical importance of enhancing disaster preparedness and building climate resilience. As a country prone to natural disasters itself, Indonesia stands ready to share its experience in disaster-risk reduction and to contribute to advancing that important agenda, including through the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Bali Agenda for Resilience. Let me once again express our solidarity with the Government and the people of Pakistan. With the strong support of the international community, I trust that Pakistan will be able to recover and rebuild stronger.

I thank Ambassador Munir Akram for his introduction to the important resolution adopted today (resolution 77/1). I endorse the messages of brotherhood and support conveyed by previous speakers. The force of the floods that hit Pakistan and the resulting devastation can only be interpreted as an unequivocal appeal on the part of nature in the face of the abuses that humankind has visited on it. Nature is once again confronting us with the fragility of our own ecosystem. Multilateralism faces one of the most significant challenges in its history. One question that we need to answer with a sense of responsibility and commitment to future generations is: how do we deal with these new threats to life that call into question the capacity of States to protect their citizens? The answer to that question is undoubtedly through solidarity. Ecuador is a country deeply committed to collective endeavours. We believe in the power of multilateralism. We are confident that the only way to tackle the consequences of climate change is by entering into commitments based on solidarity. With that conviction, we support the Government and the people of Pakistan and are ready and willing to support recovery efforts in flood-devastated areas.

Malaysia joins others in expressing our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Pakistan in the context of the recent massive floods that resulted in more than 1,600 casualties and affected 40 million people. The consensual adoption of resolution 77/1 is a testament to the international community’s support for, and solidarity with, the people of Pakistan. To alleviate the suffering of the victims, the Government of Malaysia will contribute the sum of $200,000 through the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2022, which was established by the High Commission of Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur in support of the ongoing relief and rescue efforts. In addition to the assistance provided by the Government, Malaysian local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also extended support to provide aid to the affected people in Pakistan. Our NGOs are currently operating in flood-affected areas, providing essential medical care, food packages, cooked food and temporary shelter. In assisting the people of Pakistan in this time of peril, an integrated approach to mobilize all forms of assistance, whether financial or in-kind, is necessary. We recognize that the United Nations recently revised its flash appeal for Pakistan fivefold — from $160 million to $816 million. Such assistance is essential to support fundamental basic needs, such as clean water and food. The Government of Pakistan has projected that it will need more than $10 billion to reconstruct damaged critical infrastructure and destroyed homes. We must answer the call and work hand in hand to assist Pakistan in meeting both the immediate and long-term needs of its people so as to recover from this calamity. The unfortunate episode that befell Pakistan serves as a grim reminder of the climate crisis we are facing today. We have seen countless natural catastrophes resulting from climate change wreaking havoc in different parts of the world. It is pertinent that the international community devote serious attention and undertake concrete actions to address climate change in order to further prevent future tragedies around the world. Malaysia reiterates its support and solidarity with the Government and the people of Pakistan at this difficult time and stands ready to assist in any way possible.

At the outset, the Government and the people of the United Arab Emirates express our sincere condolences to the Government and the people of the friendly Republic of Pakistan for the victims of the devastating floods and deluges, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people, as well as major infrastructure damage after one third of the country’s surface area was submerged with water. In those difficult circumstances resulting from climate change, the United Arab Emirates would like to stress the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to Pakistan based on the principles of humanity and impartiality in order to provide relief assistance to all those affected or afflicted. My country therefore has dispatched urgent assistance for those persons displaced from the recently flooded areas, including thousands of tons of foodstuffs, medical equipment and medicines, as well as tents to provide shelter for those affected. Our relief teams have provided support at many levels to the Pakistani institutions that provide those affected with safety and ensure their needs. The disasters that we witness today as a result of climate change highlight the need to intensify international efforts to mitigate the repercussions of that phenomenon and support the countries most at risk, including by finding practical and thoughtful solutions for the climate crisis. As we are committed to supporting climate work, we look forward to participating effectively at the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), to be hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt in November. We are also committed to continuing to build partnerships, ensure inclusiveness and invest in areas that will yield tangible results for addressing climate change. We would also like to express our readiness to host COP-28. In conclusion, the United Arab Emirates stresses its full solidarity with the Government and the people of the Republic of Pakistan in the current circumstances. We will continue to provide relief and humanitarian and development assistance, while working to unite efforts and mobilize support for the benefit of those affected until they can overcome their current plight and return to normal life in the affected areas.

First and foremost, we wish to express our deepest and most sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Pakistan, who are currently going through a distressing period in their history. The destructive floods that have torn through the country are of an unprecedented scale and cause real concern at the potential far-reaching consequences for the people of this friendly country. Our delegation supports the timely adoption of resolution 77/1. We therefore joined the list of co-sponsors without hesitation. We express our support for an unconditional strengthening of international humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, which in order to be more effective should be implemented in close cooperation with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. We welcome the plans to hold a pledging donor conference to provide the necessary assistance to all those affected. That is important, including in the context of the implementation of the United Nations emergency humanitarian response plan. For our part, and bearing in mind the limited possibilities for transferring our contributions to the budget of United Nations humanitarian organizations because of unilateral sanctions, we are working to provide humanitarian assistance to Pakistan on a bilateral basis. In particular, following the instructions of President Putin, a batch of the assistance has already been sent to Islamabad, including essential supplies and food and water purification systems.

Since June, Pakistan has suffered the worst flood in decades, which caused heavy casualties and losses. China expresses its deepest sympathies to the Pakistani Government and people. We hope that resolution 77/1 will help the international community pay more attention to Pakistan’s humanitarian post-disaster recovery and reconstruction needs and provide effective, immediate and full support and assistance to Pakistan. China and Pakistan have long shared both good times and bad times, helping each other and together facing major challenges, such as natural disasters. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang both sent messages expressing their condolences to Pakistani leaders in real time. Under the social and livelihood cooperation framework of the China-Pakistan economic corridor, China provided emergency relief materials, such as 4,000 tents, 50,000 blankets and 50,000 waterproof coverings, which were all deployed on the disaster-relief front line. At Pakistan’s request, China also provided additional materials in the amount of ¥100 million, as well as additional relief materials in the amount of ¥300 million. China will work with all parties to continue to provide much-needed assistance to Pakistan and support it in its relief efforts.

I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries Türkiye, Serbia, Albania and the Republic of Moldova, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. On behalf of the European Union, I wish to convey our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Government and the people of Pakistan, as well as to Ambassador Munir Akram and the entire team and colleagues at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan, for the loss of lives, loved ones, homes and livelihoods during the unprecedented monsoon rains and floods in Pakistan. The catastrophic flash floods of an unprecedented nature were described by Secretary-General Guterres as “climate carnage”. Their immediate human impacts and humanitarian consequences were severe: massive loss of life, displacement, destruction of homes, crops and arable lands, disruption of access to health and education services, outbreaks of diseases and food insecurity. Those consequences prompted the international community to mobilize global solidarity and support for the people of Pakistan, as we heard today. But let us not overlook the longer-term consequences that such disasters may entail if we do not act accordingly and swiftly. The EU and its member States have actively supported activities to avert, minimize and address the consequences of disasters through combined development cooperation, disaster-risk reduction and humanitarian assistance, as well as through dedicated climate funds, organizations and initiatives. Investments in building resilience are paramount. Extreme weather events are creating new humanitarian crises across the globe, such as the one currently unfolding in Pakistan. Those floods urge us to do more to prepare for the impact of climate change, including by scaling up anticipatory humanitarian action, and to strengthen international cooperation in the pursuit of the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We remain strongly committed to the protection of the humanitarian space, including in the event of natural disasters. That is crucial for reaching people in need, mobilizing experts and enabling the work of humanitarian actors to provide life-saving assistance. It is regrettable that the General Assembly is forced to convene increasingly often to demonstrate solidarity with countries facing the consequences of natural catastrophes, in addition to adopting annual humanitarian resolutions. Nevertheless, as the scale and frequency of those disasters increase in the context of climate change, it looks as if we will have to get used to a new normal. After the recent visit of the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management to Pakistan earlier this week, the EU pledged an additional €30 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing the total amount of team Europe support to more than €123 million. In addition, important in-kind assistance from a number of EU member States is financially supported and coordinated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU and its member States welcome the adoption of resolution 77/1 in the context of the recent floods. We call on the Government of Pakistan and the international community to work together to address the different protection needs of affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable.

I now give the floor to the observer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

On behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and our 192 national societies, including the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, we express our condolences to the people of Pakistan and welcome the adoption of resolution 77/1. Pakistan is still reeling from record-breaking floods. One third of the country and 33 million people have been affected, with many communities still under floodwaters. About 7.9 million people remain displaced, and hundreds of thousands of people are living in relief camps or makeshift tents. Damage to critical infrastructure such as hospitals and roadways makes it difficult to transport humanitarian supplies and provide life-saving assistance. The response of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, supported by the IFRC network, focuses on addressing the most urgent needs: food, water, medical, hygiene and shelter assistance during the emergency phase, delivered through community-based volunteers. Through our Disaster Response Emergency Fund and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s large network of community volunteers and staff, we have reached about 270,000 people with emergency life-saving assistance. Looking ahead, the IFRC recently revised its appeal to scale up our operation in order to provide support to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society to assist 1 million people to recover. Our revised response was prompted by the worsening situation, in which a surge of flood-borne diseases and food inaccessibility are on the rise. In the areas where floods are receding, health and hygiene concerns such as water-borne diseases pose severe threats to people’s well-being. We will also assist in the provision of long-term support, including the provision of cash programming and shelter and livelihood support for the most vulnerable. Stronger coordination at the provincial and district levels will ensure that no flood-affected communities are left behind. We welcome the recognition in resolution 77/1 of the need to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change. A new study by the World Weather Attribution initiative — a group of international scientists, including those of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre — found that climate change likely intensified the rainfall that caused the floods in Pakistan. That is yet another example of the devastating impact of climate change on people and communities. Our emergency response activities integrated resilience strengthening and climate change adaptation from the outset, and we aim to expand those components in our operational strategy and appeal. Now and in the coming months, the international community must come together in support of the people of Pakistan. Therefore, we welcome the call to provide flexible and sustained funding for both initial assistance and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society and the IFRC, through locally led action and working together with local authorities and other partners, stand ready to do our part to help those most in need.

First of all, I would like to extend my condolences to the victims of the recent floods in Pakistan and to express our full solidarity with the people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. As a co-sponsor, the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the timely adoption of resolution 77/1, which indicates the commitment of the international community to extend its full support to the people of Pakistan in this dire situation. The negative impacts of climate change are not something that can be ignored. And unfortunately, in cases such as that of the recent flood and other natural disasters, which are not rare in our region, those destructive effects show themselves in the most violent way. We believe that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Taking concrete actions and reducing the negative impacts of climate change and natural disasters is an urgent priority and a global challenge faced by all countries, in particular developing countries, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Adopting effective measures in that regard is a must, especially when it comes to our region in West Asia, which is disaster-prone and vulnerable to a wide variety of natural disasters. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a neighbouring and brotherly country, stands with the friendly and brotherly nation and Government of Pakistan and has dispatched humanitarian assistance to the people in need. We express sympathy with the victims of the recent flooding and will not hesitate to provide all the necessary assistance in such a severe situation. We believe that, by promoting cooperation, especially at the regional level, and by trying to reduce the serious effects of climate change, we can move forward in reducing the suffering of the people of the region.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 69.

The positions of delegations regarding the recommendation of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. Therefore, if there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, may I take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the report of the Fifth Committee that is before the Assembly today?

May I remind members that, in accordance with decision 34/401, delegations should, as far as possible, explain their vote only once, that is either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in plenary vote is different from its vote in the Committee. Explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the recommendation contained in the report of the Fifth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take a decision in the same manner as was done in the Fifth Committee, unless notified otherwise in advance. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations: requests under Article 19 of the Charter”, which was recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 142.