UNITED NATIONS, Jul 14 :Pakistan has raised at the U.N. last month\u2019s tragic sinking of an overloaded boat off the Greek coast where 700 people, including Pakistanis, were killed while calling for scaling up rescue operations to save lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cMediterranean Sea crossings have become increasingly treacherous,\u201d Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN,
\ntold UN Security Council\u2019s \u201cArria-Formula\u201d meeting on \u2018Refugees and Asylum Seekers crossing borders on Land and At Sea: New Wave of Crisis\u2019<\/p>\n
Russia convened the 15-member Council meeting under the format of Arria formula, which is named after a former Venezuelan UN ambassador, Diego Arriva. It is a very informal consultation process which affords the Council the opportunity to hear persons in a confidential, informal setting.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy highlighted the deadly migrant shipwreck that occurred on June 22, 2023, as he underscored the need for
\ndeveloping mechanisms for people in distress at sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs responsible members of the international community, it is incumbent on us all to ensure the safety and security of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, uphold international law including maritime law, and enforce the prompt rescue of individuals in distress at sea, regardless of their nationality or circumstances,\u201d he said. There were news reports at the time that Greek coastguards were slow in reacting to the distress call from people aboard the sinking ship.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne life lost is one too many,\u201d Ambassador Aamir Khan said, adding, \u201cAs civilized nations, it is our responsibility to ensure that no life is lost at anytime, anywhere and under all circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must undertake all efforts including by developing a transparent, safe and predictable disembarkation mechanisms for people in distress at sea, while complying with international obligations and without obstructing humanitarian efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Referring to the deepening humanitarian crisis, the Pakistani envoy said that the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) provided a good framework by outlining key objectives to ease pressure on hosting countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, expand third-country solutions, and support safe and dignified returns.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he said the recent GCR Indicator Report called for burden-sharing and strengthen efforts, as ten countries bear the weight of hosting over three-quarters of the world\u2019s refugees, with developing nations accommodating 80% of displaced individuals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is unfair and unequal and cannot be rectified by a business-as-usual approach,\u201d Aamir Khan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will have to do more \u2026 if we want to prevent already desperate situations from becoming catastrophic.\u201d<\/p>\n
On its part, he said Pakistan is hosting 3.5 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees for four decades, despite not being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe humanitarian and economic crisis in Afghanistan necessitates swift international assistance to prevent the prospect of the influx of millions of desperate Afghans seeking refuge from hunger and starvation,\u201d Aamir Khan said, pointing out that Pakistan cannot shoulder any new influx.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must help Afghan people. We must not neglect Afghanistan and divert attention away to other emergencies,\u201dhe added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 14 :Pakistan has raised at the U.N. last month\u2019s tragic sinking of an overloaded boat off the Greek coast where 700 people, including Pakistanis, were killed while calling for scaling up rescue operations to save lives. \u201cMediterranean Sea crossings have become increasingly treacherous,\u201d Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":343037,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-343030","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n