7 October 2022

Mr. Secretary-General,

Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues,

The theme of the 77th 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.

This is the worst flood in the country’s recent history.

As I did at the opening of the session, I stand today in solidarity with the people and Government of Pakistan.

In its hard-hit areas, devastating torrents washed away hundreds of villages.

33 million lives are affected.

6.4 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The flooding left at least 3.4 million children in need of life-saving help.

These are not numbers. They are lives.

The damage has been enormous.

Over nine million acres of crops have been wiped out.

One million heads of livestock are 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 10 million people who have been displaced from their homes.

This is a tragedy of epic proportions.

Without immediate interventions, its consequences will take us down a path of permanent emergency.

Excellencies,

This General Assembly is committed to leaving no one behind. Only a few weeks ago, world leaders reaffirmed this pledge.

In times of crisis, honouring these commitments is vital.

I ask you: Can we gather in solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their time of need?

We know what is required.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has provided a response plan.

Pakistan has come to this General Assembly in a show of great confidence in this Organization.

I commend their leadership for putting forward a proposal that seeks solutions through solidarity.

Excellencies,

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 capacities.

The times are hard, but I am confident that we can rebuild better.

And to do that, we must rebuild together.

شکریہ

له تاسو مننه

(Urdu and Pashtu translation: Thank you)