Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy continues to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations in Flood Stricken Sri Lanka through Pakistan Navy’s Ship ZULFIQUAR. The Ship has already arrived at Colombo with embarked Helicopter ALOUETTE, relief goods, paramedical facilities and medicines. Sri Lanka is facing severe floods which have caused havoc and devastation in many parts of the country.

Reportedly, the death toll from floods and landslides rose to 183, with over half a million people displaced.

PNS ZULFIQUAR has carried onboard fresh/ dry rations, bedding items, medicines, de-flooding pumps and various other relief items. Ship has established medical camps at various locations across the affected area with specialized medical officers and paramedical staff to treat/cure people of the local population. Ship’s teams will also provide assistance to affected areas for decontamination of various drinking wells through specialized equipment which have been contaminated during the natural disaster. Ship’s Disaster Response Teams comprising of trained personnel from Special Service Group (Navy) and Pakistan Marines are also contributing at various places to provide assistance in various tasks as indicated by Sri Lankan authorities. Ship’s diving teams are being employed for various operations including clearing of under-water obstructions from rivers. Additionally, ship’s embarked helicopter (with lifting up facilities) and high speed rescue boats are kept at immediate notice for SAR (Search and Rescue) Operations to rescue the flood affected people.

Earlier yesterday, the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Dr Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra and Commanding Officer PNS ZULFIQUAR Captain Faisal Javeed Sheikh handed over the relief goods to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr Ravi Karunanayake.

Sri Lankan political and military leadership have lauded the prompt support by the Pakistan Navy and expressed gratitude to the people of Pakistan for their swift response and providing a valued assistance at a time of need.

Besides safeguarding maritime interests of Pakistan, Pakistan Navy has always been at the forefront with the international community to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations overseas. The resolve and commitment was also evident at numerous occasions in the past including assistance rendered to Maldives and Indonesia after the Tsunami in 2004, rescue of MV Suez crew from pirates in 2011 and successful conduct of humanitarian operations to evacuate stranded Pakistanis and Foreign Nationals from Yemen in 2015. In the current situation as well, Pakistan Navy and people of Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to extend help to the people and Government of Sri Lanka in this hour of disaster.