Twenty years ago, the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad was subjected to a brutal attack that destroyed the building and killed many UN staff and international experts who were working tirelessly to provide humanitarian support to those in greatest need. Since then, the 19th of August has been designated as World Humanitarian Day (WHD) to unite the global humanitarian community and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to delivering much-needed services and support to communities, regardless of who or where they are. The humanitarian mission is a noble one; its sole purpose is to save and protect lives and deliver the necessities of life, standing shoulder to shoulder with communities to bring hope. The nobility of humanitarian work also stems from the fact that it serves the forgotten vulnerable people whose lives continue, and whose needs are often overlooked during a humanitarian situation. Women account for over 70% of the health workforce and are responsible for over 70% of global caregiving hours, making them crucial in shaping the health response to climate change. This brings me to speak about women and girls in Pakistan.

Looking back to 2022, when massive floods ravaged parts of Pakistan, women and girls were particularly impacted. The Pakistan Post Disaster Needs Assessment indicated that up to 9.1 million people may have been pushed into poverty, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable to adopting harmful coping strategies. These include a rise in child marriages driven by increased social and economic pressures, as well as a surge in domestic violence, mental health challenges, and limited access to safe spaces. While there were many........

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