News
Saturday, September 17, 2011
United Nations calls on world to help flood-hit Pakistan* Ban Ki-moon calls for continued solidarity of international community in support of disaster management and risk reduction in Pakistan
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has formally called on the international community to help Pakistan respond to the humanitarian needs of the more than five million people in flood-hit areas.
“Following the generous response of the international community to his appeal to assist Pakistan during the devastating floods of last year, the secretary general further calls for continued solidarity of the international community in support of disaster management and risk reduction in Pakistan,” his office said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement followed the secretary general’s discussions with Pakistan UN Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon on the worsening situation in Sindh and Balochistan, and his consultations with concerned UN officials.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has put the toll of death and destruction following the heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan at 230 people killed, more than 300,000 displaced and 1.1 million homes destroyed or damaged. Some 4.5 million acres farmland has been inundated, major roads damaged and water contaminated.
European Commission announced here Friday a 10 million euro emergency aid to the victims of the monsoon floods in Pakistan. The EU’s executive body said in a statement that the aid is provided solely on the guarantee of full independence, unlimited and full access to the areas and people in need, and the possibility of independently assessing, controlling and monitoring any project being funded. Last year, floods killed some 2,000 people in Pakistan and submerged about a fifth of the country, affecting 20 million people. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk