Vietnam is ready to continue to join the UN and the international community at large in working with the Pakistani people and government to best cope with the disaster, ensuring early recovery and sustainable post-disaster development in the country.

Ambassador Bui The Giang, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, made the statement at the UN General Assembly Plenary Meeting on Floods in Pakistan in New York on August 20.

“We wish to express our deepest condolences and sympathy to the people and government of Pakistan over their horrendous phenomenal human and material sufferings and losses,” he stressed.

“While making an initial symbolic financial contribution to Pakistani victims, we, at the same time, pay tribute to the Pakistani people and Government’s courage, endurance and resilience in quenching the floods, taking care of the immediate needs of those affected and preparing for possible future eventualities,” he added.

Vietnam appreciates the solidarity, cooperation and assistance extended to the Pakistani people by the international community, the diplomat noted.

Effective solutions to the consequences of the disaster will have to take into account both immediate and long-term economic, social and environmental implications of the disaster, he said.

At the meeting, countries pledged an emergency aid of over 200 million USD for Pakistan to overcome the aftermaths of the disaster. The Asia Development Bank (ADB) also committed at least 2 billion USD for the country’s reconstruction in the next two years.

By August 20, Pakistan ’s worst floods in 80 years killed nearly 1,500 people and affected up to 20 million others as well as damaged around 1 million houses.

Emergency relief from the international community to Pakistan has reached 490.7 million USD. The US was the largest donor with 102 million USD./.