Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Commission has said it supports Pakistan in its recovery after last year's terrible floods that killed more than 1,700 people. The Commission endorsed a €500 million reconstruction plan for Pakistan from #TeamEurope European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to continue European humanitarian aid and work with Pakistan to modernize its economy.
This came in von der Leyen's speech at the International Conference on Combating Climate Change in Pakistan, which is co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations. "Team Europe's response to this tragedy was immediate and substantial. But the scale of the devastation was massive. Vast swathes of farmland and villages have been submerged for months. According to UNICEF, nearly 10 million girls and boys still need immediate support. So much more is needed." the support.
Today we support an ambitious plan for reconstruction. We are joining forces with our partners to help put Pakistan on the path to recovery. Our Europe team's support for the reconstruction of Pakistan amounts to nearly 500 million euros - including our humanitarian assistance. And the European Union and Pakistan have just agreed a €87 million package, in line with our Global Gateway Strategy.
In parallel, to continue supporting the affected communities, the European Union is stepping up its humanitarian aid, with an additional €10 million. This brings the humanitarian support provided by Team Europe to Pakistan to 172 million euros. The Chairperson of the Commission concluded her speech by saying:
ladies and gentlemen,
The future of Pakistan is in the hands of its people.
I wish the Government of Pakistan every success in implementing this ambitious reform plan.
We will continue to provide assistance, including through the support group that will be established after this conference