UN chief announces additional aid to Pakistan
0 
Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Sunday announced additional 10 million U.S. dollars from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for the relief and rescue of flood affected people, taking the total UN assistance to 27 million.
 |
|
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gestures to young flood victims after visiting them at a relief camp in the Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province August 15, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
"I feel distressed by the devastation caused by floods," the UN Secretary General said at a joint press conference along with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after visiting the floods-hit areas.
"I have witnessed various disasters across the world, but nothing like this, as the scale of this disaster is so large that one out of every ten Pakistanis has been affected," he said. He added that number of the affected people has reached nearly 20 million.
The UN Secretary-General arrived in Islamabad Sunday morning to see the flood-hit areas, saying that the whole world is behind Pakistan in the hour of trial.
"I have come to see what is going on and urge the world community for speed up assistance," the UN chief told reporters at Chaklala air base in his arrival statement.
"I will have an opportunity to see for myself efforts for the affected people. I will report to the General Assembly on Thursday this week to mobilize all necessary assistance," Ban Ki-moon said. He hoped that with courage fortitude of the government of Pakistan and people will overcome the crises in near future.
The visit came days after the UN launched appeal for 460 million dollars to help Pakistan tackle the needs of flood- affected families. UN officials said about 20 percent has been received so far.
The UN Secretary General speaking at the news conference assured full support to Pakistan and urged the international community to contribute generously and quickly to help the flood affected people of Pakistan.
He said his visit to Pakistan was to show solidarity with the people of this country in this difficult hour and urge the world to step their support and assistance. He described devastation of floods as bigger than the 2005 earthquake and 2004 Tsunami, thousands of towns and villages in Pakistan have been washed away, with loss of precious human lives and destruction of infrastructure.
Ban said he had important discussions with the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan about the relief and rescue efforts, adding, the UN and its allied agencies were expanding their capacity to help the affectees as quickly as possible.
He said the UN has already launched an initial international appeal of 460 million for the relief of flood affected people to meet the requirements for 90 days, but warned that keeping in view the scale of disaster more funds would be required. He said as the damage is huge, the UN, with the support of the international community, will be part of Pakistan's efforts for rehabilitation of the affected people and areas.
Zardari thanked the UN Secretary General for his visit and said Ban has promised to plead the Pakistan case and situation before the international community and seeking the world support and assistance for the affected people. He also called upon the international community to help Pakistan in this hour of trial and support the UN in its relief and rehabilitation efforts.
