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A MOTION requesting the executive to provide a county response to support the people affected by severe flooding in Pakistan since June 2022.
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WHEREAS, since June 2022, the country of Pakistan has been devastated by severe flooding caused by unprecedented monsoon rains and melting glaciers from a severe heat wave, causing the largest natural disaster the world has seen in over 10 years, and
WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization as of September 1, 2022, the flood has killed at least 1,302 individuals, including 416 children, and injured at least 3,554 individuals and the death toll continues to grow daily, and
WHEREAS, according to the Pakistan Federal Minister of Climate Change Sherry Rehman, the flood has displaced over 33 million individuals and to date has caused more than $10 billion worth of damage, and
WHEREAS, according to Minister Rehman, one-third of Pakistan or 100 thousand square miles has been completely submerged by this historic flooding event; for perspective, the state of Washington is 70 thousand square miles in size, and
WHEREAS, according to Minister Rehman, Pakistan has seen the highest rainfall in over thirty years with rain being 780 percent above average, and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Geological Survey Professional Paper on glaciers of Pakistan, due to Pakistan's high mountain terrain, the country has the largest and longest glaciers on earth along the mid-latitudes and climate change has impacted glacial erosion in Pakistan, and
WHEREAS, according to the United Nations and Minister Rehman, Pakistan produces just 0.4 percent of global CO2 emissions, yet it is one of the countries that is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its glaciers and monsoons. For comparison, the United States produces 21.5 percent, China produces 16.5 percent and the European Union produces 15 percent of global CO2 emissions, and
WHEREAS, on August 30, 2022, the United States Agency for International Development ("USAID") has provided over $30 million in humanitarian assistance to support Pakistan to prioritize urgently needed support for food, nutrition, multi-purpose cash, safe water, sanitation, hygiene and shelter assistance, and
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2022, USAID has also deployed a disaster assistance response team to Pakistan, and
WHEREAS, the Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle based out of Seattle, WA is leading the support efforts locally by holding a two-week telethon that has raised over $1.75 million to date, and
WHEREAS, the Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle has set up a donation platform for immediate relief aid to organizations on the ground in Pakistan which are directly supporting families in need in this incredible crisis, and
WHEREAS, the council has a history of requesting the executive to provide a county response to support the people of other countries that are impacted by disasters such as Motion 16108, passed in April 2022, to respond to the crisis in Ukraine and Motion 15518, passed in September 2019, to provide relief for the people of the Bahamas who were impacted by Hurricane Dorian;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The executive is requested to provide a county response to support the people affected by severe flooding in Pakistan. The response should include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Consulting with, collaborating with and providing support to local nonprofit organizations that have established ties to the people of Pakistan and that are already providing support to the relief efforts, such as the Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle;
B. Leveraging the employee giving program established under K.C.C. 3.36.030, leave for volunteer service policy established under K.C.C. 3.12.225 and donation of vacation or compensatory hours to nonprofit organizations policy established under K.C.C. 3.12.222, to provide opportunities for county employees to support the relief efforts. The executive should develop ways to streamline the use of these programs to ensure support is delivered quickly and efficiently with minimal administrative burden;
C. Donating any county surplus resources such as medical supplies, hygiene products and emergency supply kits;
D. Offering technical expertise from county personnel, particularly from employees in the office of emergency management and the department of natural resources and parks;
E. Consulting with the King County immigrant and refugee commission to obtain more ideas on supporting the relief efforts; and
F. Collaborating with federal, state and local governments that have committed to providing support to the people of Pakistan to ensure support is delivered quickly and efficiently with minimal administrative burden.