Source: The News
Date: September 21, 2010
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an urgent global response to the Pakistan floods on Sunday as he opened an international ministerial meeting on the disaster.
The meeting, which brought together US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and about 25 other top ministers, sought extra resources for the stricken country after the United Nations issued a record two billion dollar emergency appeal.
“We are here because the Pakistan floods are one of the biggest, most complex natural disasters we have faced in the history of the United Nations,” Ban told the meeting. He highlighted that it had affected an estimated 20 million people, with up to 12 million needing urgent humanitarian assistance.
“This new appeal extends the emergency relief to six months and includes the crucial element of early recovery for the next 12 months. I call for your urgent response,” said the UN chief. “The floods in Pakistan are a global disaster, a global challenge, and a global test of solidarity,” he said. “Of course, we know this is happening in a part of the world where stability and prosperity are profoundly in the world’s interests.”
A special analysis on the impact of the floods is to be prepared for mid-October and the Pakistan government and UN agencies will then outline new long term plans to rebuild the stricken area.
Clinton said the United States has now allotted about $340 million in disaster relief to Pakistan. Britain doubled its aid to about $200 million and the European Union said it has now contributed $315 million. Iran said it has now set aside $100 million, China and other countries also announced new financial contributions and emergency food aid, but it was unclear whether it would all add up to the two billion dollars requested. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said his country also had contributed $345 million in aid.
For more details: http://thenews.com.pk/21-09-2010/ethenews/t-739.htm
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