Islamabad - Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon announced an additional $10 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for the relief and rescue of flood affected people, taking the total UN assistance to $27 million.
"I feel distressed by the devastation caused by the floods," the UN Secretary General said at a joint press conference along with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after visiting the flood-hit areas.
"I have witnessed various disasters across the world, but nothing like this, as the scale of this disaster is so large that one out of every ten Pakistanis has been affected," he said, adding that the number of the affected people has reached nearly 20 million.
The UN Secretary-General said the whole world was behind Pakistan in that country's hour of trial.
"I have come to see what is going on and urge the world community for speedy assistance," the UN chief told reporters at Chaklala air base in his arrival statement.
"I will have an opportunity to see for myself efforts for the affected people. I will report to the General Assembly on Thursday this week to mobilise all necessary assistance," Ban Ki-moon said. He hoped that with courage fortitude of the government of Pakistan and people will overcome the crises in near future.
The visit came days after the UN launched an appeal for $460 million to help Pakistan tackle the needs of flood- affected families. UN officials said about 20 percent of the money had been received so far.
