With several parts of Pakistan still reeling after unprecedented floods, DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem visited the country last week and pledged logistics support and donated $2.5 million to help people in the south of the country.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in its media briefing on Tuesday, the death toll from the rain flood has risen to around 1,663 along with 12,865 injured. As many as 614 children and 333 women are among those who have lost their lives.
Bin Sulayem visited the flood-affected areas and met Pakistan President Arif Alvi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. DP World donated $1 million to the Pakistan Army Fund for Flood Affectees and pledged an additional $1.5 million in relief items, including shelter, medication, food items, and cooking implements.
DP World is setting aside space in its warehousing facilities in Karachi for logistics support, with the company covering the cost of warehousing and stock management.
Floods have submerged huge swathes of Pakistan and thousands of people are now homeless and facing post-flooding, hygiene-related illnesses.
The deluge, brought by record monsoon rains and glacial melt in northern mountains, has impacted more than 33 million people, sweeping away homes, vehicles, crops and livestock, with estimated damages of $30 billion and counting.
The donations are through the DP World Foundation, which was launched in April to carry out humanitarian work and facilitate initiatives financed by the public and private sectors.
Bin Sulayem said: “The devastation and impact on Pakistan are heart-breaking. Visiting areas affected by natural disasters always forces you to put things into perspective as you try to fathom the enormity of the situation.
It could be months before we understand the scale of the damage. However, for now, we must look at the most efficient ways to extend relief to aid local communities in distress.
“The disaster is much worse than what most people realise. With more than one-third of the country affected, Pakistan’s economy has suffered a devastating blow that will run into the billions. As leaders representing the global business community, it is imperative to identify immediate support and relief for the people of Pakistan. We must collaborate closely with government institutions and join hands with private partners or NGOs, to mobilise support across the community.”
DP World has provided expertise and resources to help the humanitarian community respond to major disasters since signing an agreement with the UN’s World Food Program in 2017.
The company uses its experience as a global trade enabler working across six continents to help connect organisations, communities and individuals with the resources they need during emergencies.
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