Emirates cargo branch SkyCargo has formed an airbridge between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan to provide humanitarian aid following the devastating floods in the region.
In order to help Pakistan, Emirates SkyCargo started operating free of charge relief aid flights on September 2, 2022, from Dubai (DXB) to five Pakistani airports, including Karachi (KHI), Islamabad (ISB), Lahore (LHE), Peshawar (PEW), and Sialkot (SKT).
“From today, cargo capacity on all Emirates’ passenger flights to Pakistan will be available to organizations based at the world’s largest humanitarian hub, International Humanitarian City (IHC), to transport critical equipment and supplies, food, and other emergency relief goods directly to the five airports,” the airline’s statement reads.
Severe floods, resulting from heavy monsoon rains that began in June 2022, have affected the lives of around 33 million people, representing around 14% of the population in Pakistan. With around one-third of the country’s territory affected, thousands of locals have their livelihoods wiped out, while over 1,100 people have died.
Speaking to National Public Radio on August 30, 2022, Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s minister for climate change, described the floods as a “monstrous new phenomenon”. “We’ve had the superfloods of 2010. This is epic. It was much bigger than that. It was biblical. And it’s overtaken 2010 in spades and swaths,” she told the broadcaster in an interview.
Pakistan’s government has estimated that the country will need to allocate at least $10 billion for the clean-up and recovery process.