UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday pledged to speed up international aid for as many as 20 million people hit by Pakistan’s floods, warning that the “heart-wrenching” disaster was far from over.
The UN has appealed for $460 million to deal with the immediate aftermath of the floods, but has warned that billions will be required in the long term as villages, businesses, crops and infrastructure have been wiped out.
Pakistan’s weak civilian government has appealed to the international community to help it deal with the challenges of a crisis compared by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to the 1947 partition of the sub-continent.
Mr Ban held talks with Pakistani leaders and flew with President Asif Ali Zardari over some of the worst affected areas of the central province of Punjab.
“I’m here to urge the world to step up their generous support for Pakistan,” Mr Ban told a news conference with Mr Zardari. The UN secretary general said he would never forget the “heart-wrenching” scenes of destruction he had witnessed.
Charities have complained that relief for those affected by the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history is lagging far behind what is needed, with six to eight million people dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.
The UN secretary general said a possible 20 million, or one in 10 Pakistanis, were directly or indirectly affected by the disaster and that one fifth of the country had been ravaged by floods.
“This disaster is far from over. The rains are still falling and could continue for weeks.
“The United Nations and international community and international humanitarian community are moving as fast as we can to help the government deliver desperately needed humanitarian assistance,” Mr Ban said.
Mr Ban said he would report back to the UN General Assembly on Thursday and discussions would continue on how to provide funds beyond the 460 million dollars earmarked for an initial 90 days.
Scuffles broke out near the southern city of Sukkur yesterday when dozens of flood survivors angrily protested against the authorities about a lack of food and facilities, police and witnesses said.
Aid agencies were monitoring the risk of “a second wave” of deaths resulting from the floods in the shape of water-borne diseases.
The UN has confirmed at least one cholera case and has said 36,000 people were reportedly suffering from acute diarrhoea.
Mr Ban announced a further 10 million dollars from the UN central emergency response fund, making a total of $27 million since the beginning of the crisis. “As the waters recede, we must move quickly,” he said.
Mr Zardari said it would take at least two years to restore the livelihoods of people affected by the flood.
The UN estimates that 1,600 have died in the floods. The government in Islamabad has confirmed 1,384 deaths and said that 20 million people had been hit by the disaster.