UN special envoy to assess floods

Special envoy Jean-Maurice Ripert has arrived in Pakistan to assess the flood situation and relief efforts.

UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon is rushing special envoy Jean-Maurice Ripert to Pakistan to assess the flood situation and relief efforts, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Ripert, the UN special envoy in charge of humanitarian affairs for Pakistan, arrived in Pakistan on Thursday.

A former French ambassador to the UN, Ripert will help mobilise international support to assist the government in addressing “the urgent, immediate needs of the population in the affected areas,” he said.

He will also help “in planning for the early recovery and reconstruction period,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the US pledged an additional $25 million in aid to Pakistan, over and above the $10 million it had promised as initial assistance.

“The US is making a new contribution of $25 million in assistance to flood-affected populations, bringing its total commitment to date to more than $35 million,” the US embassy said on Thursday.

British charities have also launched an appeal to raise money for flood affected areas in Pakistan.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is broadcasting a series of TV and radio appeals in Britain asking for donations.

“In the aftermath of the floods, there is a serious risk to survivors from potentially deadly diseases which will spread as a result of contaminated surface and drinking water,” said a DEC spokesperson.

The DEC is an umbrella organisation that unites aid efforts of 13 British humanitarian agencies in times of overseas disasters such as earthquakes, floods and famine.

The DEC charities are ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Care International, Cafod, Christian Aid, Concern, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2010.