VisionHawk
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2005
- Messages
- 1,070
- Reaction score
- 0
International community pledges nearly US$ 580 million
ISLAMABAD, Oct 28 (APP): The donor conference in Geneva produced pledges totalling almost US$ 580 million for assistance to Pakistan after the devastating 8 October earthquake. Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator has expressed the United Nations' gratitude to the international community, but also noted that many of these pledges are not yet commitments, nor is it clear whether they are aimed at major reconstruction in Pakistan, or supporting the current life-saving relief operation. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, also emphasized the grave importance of scaling up the emergency relief operation in the remote Himalayan regions, warning that "that the death toll is still expected to rise, but if we don't step up our efforts now, a second massive wave of death will happen."
So far an additional US$ 16 million has been pledged to the relief operation in Pakistan, however, it will take more time to ascertain precisely what the funding is for. The revised UN Flash Appeal requested an extra US$ 200 million, much of which was set for the massive logistics operation needed to get aid to the devastated areas, as well as more shelter, food and safe water and sanitation: now, and over the next six months of winter. In response, Jan Vandemoortele, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, noted that now is the time to translate those pledges into commitments. "The humanitarian community, Pakistan Government and the military, are working night and day to prevent unnecessary deaths from hypothermia and disease." He said, "winter is coming and we must save babies from diarrhoeal disease, keep mothers and grandmothers warm, and avoid unnecessary amputations where people are still waiting for assistance."
ISLAMABAD, Oct 28 (APP): The donor conference in Geneva produced pledges totalling almost US$ 580 million for assistance to Pakistan after the devastating 8 October earthquake. Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator has expressed the United Nations' gratitude to the international community, but also noted that many of these pledges are not yet commitments, nor is it clear whether they are aimed at major reconstruction in Pakistan, or supporting the current life-saving relief operation. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, also emphasized the grave importance of scaling up the emergency relief operation in the remote Himalayan regions, warning that "that the death toll is still expected to rise, but if we don't step up our efforts now, a second massive wave of death will happen."
So far an additional US$ 16 million has been pledged to the relief operation in Pakistan, however, it will take more time to ascertain precisely what the funding is for. The revised UN Flash Appeal requested an extra US$ 200 million, much of which was set for the massive logistics operation needed to get aid to the devastated areas, as well as more shelter, food and safe water and sanitation: now, and over the next six months of winter. In response, Jan Vandemoortele, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, noted that now is the time to translate those pledges into commitments. "The humanitarian community, Pakistan Government and the military, are working night and day to prevent unnecessary deaths from hypothermia and disease." He said, "winter is coming and we must save babies from diarrhoeal disease, keep mothers and grandmothers warm, and avoid unnecessary amputations where people are still waiting for assistance."
