Latest Channel 4 News:
Row over Malaysian state's coins
'Four shot at abandoned mine shaft'
Rain fails to stop Moscow wildfires
Cancer blow for identical twins
Need for Afghan progress 'signs'

UN chief: Pakistan floods 'heart-wrenching'

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 15 August 2010

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges foreign donors to speed up aid to Pakistan on what he describes as a "heart-wrenching day" in the country, as a UNHCR spokesman warns Channel 4 News the crisis is just beginning.

Flooding in Pakistan (credit: Jonathan Miller)

The UN secretary general, who arrived in Pakistan today, told a press conference this afternoon: "I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today."

He went on: "The scale of this disaster is so large. So many people in so many places in so much need."

And he repeated his call for more aid for Pakistan. "The people of Pakistan need food, emergency shelters, medicines, clean water," he said.

Earlier in the day, Ban Ki-moon had told reporters: "I am here (…) to see what is going on and what more should be done. And I am here also to urge the world community to speed up their assistance to Pakistani people."

'We are just at the beginning of this crisis'
Khassim Djiang of the UNHCR told Channel 4 News that what was happening in Pakistan was "a crisis of unprecedented magnitude".

Speaking to Samira Ahmed, he recalled flying over southern Punjab and seeing entire villages washed away.

"We need airlift capacities. We need trucks. We need supply routes to be open (...) Any sort of aid that will enable us to access this aid to the people would be more than welcome," he said.


"The resources to deliver those things are there, but we need the cash and the money to pay for those assets."

Mr Djiang agreed that the situation was worsening day by day, and he warned that the present situation could continue for weeks. He predicted that the crisis would move south from the north west, going to southern Punjad and Sindh.

He concluded: "I think we are just at the beginning of this crisis, so more than ever the international community's attention is absolutely needed."

Stepping up to the plate
On Channel 4 News last night, Save The Children's Mohammed Qazilbash told Samira Ahmed that foreign governments needed to "step up to the plate" in providing assistance to those affected by the disaster.

Estimates say up to 1,600 people have died in the flooding, which has hit an area roughly the size of Italy, and a reported case of cholera in the north west of the country yesterday sparked fears outbreaks of disease could spread.

More on the Pakistan floods from Channel 4 News
- Emergency aid 'not reaching' flood-hit Pakistan
- 'Four million' at risk from Pakistan floods
- '12 million' directly hit by Pakistan floods
- Pakistan floods: desperation as rain continues
- Pakistan floods: military steps up rescue effort
- Pakistan floods: victim number exceeds tsunami
- More rain as Pakistan floods sweep south

How to donate
To make a donation to the DEC Pakistan appeal call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, visit http://www.dec.org.uk or donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque.

You can also donate £5 by texting the word GIVE to 70707.

Flood waters are now threatening the Sindh province and Baluchistan in the south west. Some 500,000 tonnes of wheat have been destroyed in the floods. Cotton and sugar crops have also suffered in a country where agriculture is the mainstay of the economy.

Ban Ki-moon has had meetings with President Zardari and the prime minister, Yusuf Gilani. Critics say the government in Pakistan has been slow to respond to the crisis, with victims relying mostly on the military and on foreign aid agencies.

When the flooding started, President Zardari was in the west on a five-day tour of Europe.

However, a military coup is thought to be unlikely at present. Analysts say there would be no advantage to the military, whose priority is fighting the Taliban, in seizing power in the present situation.

Send this article by email

More on this story

Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.


Watch the Latest Channel 4 News

Watch Channel 4 News when you want

Latest Pakistan Floods news

7-day catch-up

image

Watch Channel 4 News when you want to, from the last week.

Pakistan appeal

image

Actor Art Malik on why he is fronting the DEC's flood appeal.

Living with the Taliban

Taliban on the Afghan frontline

A rare film of Taliban fighters on the Afghan frontline.




Channel 4 © 2010. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.