Global General

UN chief to visit flood-ravaged Pakistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-14 14:43

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon will travel to Pakistan to visit the country's flood-ravaged areas on Saturday, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said here on Friday.

Men move sacks of grain from their shop after flood waters ravaged their village in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh district in Punjab province, Aug 13, 2010. [Agencies]

The spokesman noted, however, that the arrangements for Ban's trip "have not been finalized."

Ban's intended visit comes after the United Nations launched a $460-million appeal on Wednesday for disaster relief efforts in Pakistan.

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According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), humanitarian organizations have been working around the clock to deliver life-saving assistance to close to six million people affected by the unprecedented floods.

"The death toll has so far been relatively low compared to other major natural disasters, and we want to keep it that way," said humanitarian coordinator for Pakistan Martin Mogwanja in a press release.

Nesirky told reporters that the World Food Program (WFP) has at present delivered one-month food rations to nearly 430,000 people. However, shelter remains one of the most urgent needs as water- borne diseases threaten to affect the lives of millions.

Pakistan's floods have affected an estimated 14.1 million people, of whom six million are due to be assisted by the United Nations and its partners, OCHA said here on Friday.