The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Wednesday called on member states and the international community for urgent aid to Pakistan, which is grappling with devastating floods. The OIC also called for the establishment of an emergency fund to help OIC member states facing natural disasters. The organization also called in a communique for the “international community in general and Islamic world in particular, at the level of individuals and states, to provide urgent material and financial aid to Pakistan.” The appeal was issued at an emergency meeting for representatives of the OIC member states. An OIC spokesman confirmed Wednesday that the Islamic Development Bank has allocated $11.2 million for assistance to Pakistan. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told the meeting that the situation in Pakistan is “very grave and unprecedented in modern history.” Ihsanoglu said after the meeting that the OIC will hold a meeting in Pakistan for Islamic Red Crescent societies and relief bodies to coordinate aid, and that contacts are ongoing with Pakistan to set the date and place for the meeting. Also on Tuesday, Kuwait's Cabinet announced $5 million in relief assistance. Pakistan's worst-ever humanitarian disaster has ravaged an area roughly the size of England, affected 20 million people, exacerbated a crippling energy crisis and raised fears of social unrest. Floods have inflicted widespread damage on infrastructure, and in some cities destroyed electricity installations, roads and phone lines. The World Bank, which has announced a $900 million loan for Pakistan, expects the economic impact to be huge, and said that direct damage was greatest in housing, roads, irrigation and agriculture. It estimated crop loss at $1 billion.
