UNITED NATIONS, Oct 24: A top UN official on Monday regretted that member states have not responded urgently to the UN Flash appeal for Pakistani earthquake victims, but expressed hope that in Geneva at the UN donors conference on Wednesday enough countries will come forward with commitments.
“So far only $90 million have been committed by member states to some $312 sought by the United Nations,” said Ms Margaret Wahlström, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of UN office of Humanitarian Affairs at a press briefing at UN headquarters.
Some 60 member states and 250 entities have accepted the invitation of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to attend the donors conference.
She reflected that “perhaps the nations have exhausted their reserves for emergencies given the multiple disasters which struck the world, saying “perhaps they will draw on more reserves “ given the nature of the situation in Pakistan.
Speaking about the devastation in the remote areas of earthquake impacted areas in Pakistan Ms Wahlström said there has been 95 to 100 per cent destruction in many villages and towns. But she said that “it does not mean that all the people living the villages have been killed but most structures are gone.
Noting that many access roads are in disrepair, she said that some 100 helicopters have arrived in the area to airlift necessary supplies for the people in the area. Another 15 helicopters are expected to arrive to join the relief mission, she said.
