Govt must increase Pakistan aid: Brown

BBC Urdu

متاثرین ڈیڑھ سے دو کروڑ، نئے ریلے سے مزید تباہی کا اندیشہ

پاکستانی وزیرِ خارجہ کے مطابق سیلاب متاثرین کی تعداد ڈیڑھ سے دو کروڑ کے لگ بھگ ہے جبکہ دریائے چناب اور سندھ میں سیلاب سے مزید تباہی کا خدشہ ظاہر کیا جا رہا ہے۔

AAP

Greens leader Bob Brown has called on the federal government to donate more aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan as a matter of urgency.

And he also wants Australia to develop a regional disaster co-ordination centre to assist in dealing with natural disasters around the world.

Senator Brown urged the government to "move quickly to provide Pakistan with more assistance".

"Australia has so far committed $10 million but the United Nations (UN) is calling this a catastrophe that's going to continue to unfold in the coming days," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

"This is unprecedented, it's the worst flood in history for the Pakistanis and it's a huge natural disaster."

Senator Brown said the establishment of a regional disaster co-ordination centre could make a big difference in

ping neighbouring countries devastated by natural disasters.

Australian aid was also far below the 0.7 per cent of gross national income it has committed to the UN, he said.

"There's a lot we could be doing in this wealthy country and we need to catch up," Senator Brown said.

"The Greens are very strong supporters of us meeting our projected targets on overseas aid and also thinking laterally about how we can use our technological advancement and our wherewithal and experience with disasters to help our neighbours."

Senator Brown welcomed the coalition's announcement last week that they would appoint a minister for overseas aid and development if elected.

"That's a Greens' proposal that we're very happy to see them taking up," he said.