Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday visited one of the towns in China’s Sichuan province hit hardest by the recent earthquake, pledging the United Nations’ support for the East Asian nation and expressing his condolences to the Chinese people.
Mr. Ban told reporters in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, after stopping in the town of Yingxiu: “My heart is filled with great sadness by what has happened to the Chinese people. It is a great natural tragedy.”
"At the same time I’m moved by such strong leadership demonstrated by the Chinese Government leaders, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, and all the people who have shown such a great spirit of self-help and cooperation and resilience to overcome this natural disaster.”
During his four-hour visit to China, Mr. Ban Ki-moon met with the Premier in Yingxiu, near the epicenter of the 12 May earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale which, according to state media reports, has claimed more than 60,000 lives.
“Natural disasters can come to any people, any country. What is important is your determined will to overcome,” he noted. “The United Nations has taken initial measures to donate the necessary funds; we have sent rescue experts and officers.”
Meanwhile, China’s earthquake zone has been warned to prepare for heavy rains which could slow down further relief efforts.
There are concerns that construction of temporary shelters for five million homeless could be delayed, while water levels in dams and lakes remain high.
Upon his return to New York, Mr. Ban said that he will consult with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Member States on what further support the world body can make available.
He also underscored the importance of a two-track approach that addressed both shorter-term relief and longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction.
In a statement earlier this week, the Secretary-General announced that the UN is contributing $8 million in relief grants from its Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).
He said that the funds will be used by a variety of UN agencies funds and programmes to help Chinese authorities meet the most urgent humanitarian needs.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide further support, as required, to the Government of China in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,” the statement added.
Prior to his visit to China, Mr. Ban saw first-hand the damage left in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and met with the nation's top officials.
Sunday he will return to Yangon to attend an international pledging conference, which is co-sponsored by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to raise funds for the disaster in Myanmar.
Showing posts with label ban ki-moon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ban ki-moon. Show all posts
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
More UN supplies pour in to quake-affected areas of China
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is distributing hundreds of tents and quilts to provide emergency shelter for some of the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, according to a statement Friday of the UN.
State media in China report that the number of dead and missing as a result of the 12 May quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, has climbed to more than 80,000, with about 280,000 others injured and nearly 5.5 million homeless.
The UN-agencies UNDP, WFP, WHO, UNFPA are delivering tents, food, medical supplies, hospital equipment and other emergency supplies.
UNDP
The first batch of 358 large tents and 1,500 quilts is due to arrive in quake-affected areas tonight, the agency reported, and follows the clothing, food, drinking water and medicines that it has already provided.
UNDP said the emergency supplies are part of the $2 million assigned to the agency out of the $8 million in relief grants contributed by the UN through its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the grant, saying it will be used by a variety of UN agencies, funds and programmes to help Chinese authorities meet the most urgent humanitarian needs.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide further support, as required, to the Chinese Government in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,” the statement added.
The number of dead and missing as a result of the 12 May quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, has climbed to more than 80,000, with about 280,000 others injured and nearly 5.5 million homeless.
WFP
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is buying a second round of relief supplies, including rice, wheat flour and cooking oil, and a shipment comprising 473 tons is expected to arrive in Sichuan by the end of the week.
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is rushing additional medical supplies so that it can treat as many as 130,000 people. It is also sending experts to work with the Chinese Government on rebuilding its health infrastructure.
UNFPA
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is also mobilizing reproductive health supplies, including clean delivery kits and hospital equipment required for Caesarean deliveries and blood transfusions.
State media in China report that the number of dead and missing as a result of the 12 May quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, has climbed to more than 80,000, with about 280,000 others injured and nearly 5.5 million homeless.
The UN-agencies UNDP, WFP, WHO, UNFPA are delivering tents, food, medical supplies, hospital equipment and other emergency supplies.
UNDP
The first batch of 358 large tents and 1,500 quilts is due to arrive in quake-affected areas tonight, the agency reported, and follows the clothing, food, drinking water and medicines that it has already provided.
UNDP said the emergency supplies are part of the $2 million assigned to the agency out of the $8 million in relief grants contributed by the UN through its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the grant, saying it will be used by a variety of UN agencies, funds and programmes to help Chinese authorities meet the most urgent humanitarian needs.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide further support, as required, to the Chinese Government in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,” the statement added.
The number of dead and missing as a result of the 12 May quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, has climbed to more than 80,000, with about 280,000 others injured and nearly 5.5 million homeless.
WFP
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is buying a second round of relief supplies, including rice, wheat flour and cooking oil, and a shipment comprising 473 tons is expected to arrive in Sichuan by the end of the week.
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is rushing additional medical supplies so that it can treat as many as 130,000 people. It is also sending experts to work with the Chinese Government on rebuilding its health infrastructure.
UNFPA
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is also mobilizing reproductive health supplies, including clean delivery kits and hospital equipment required for Caesarean deliveries and blood transfusions.
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