ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, speaking at the International Donors Conference here on Saturday, made an impassioned appeal to the world to generously donate for the victims of the ‘unprecedented earthquake’ that killed over 73,000 people. The UN chief called for ‘simultaneously moving on meeting the immediate, medium and long term needs of relief, saving life, early recovery, restoring livelihood and building economies in the devastated areas.’

Mr Annan warned that survivors would die unless relief funds came soon.

“The pitiless Himalayan winter is almost upon us and growing more and more severe every week,” he said.

“We must sustain our efforts to keep people as healthy and as strong as possible until we can rebuild,” he said.

“We must ensure the earthquake does not claim more lives than it already has…. It was an unprecedented disaster, it requires us to mount an unprecedented response,” Mr Annan said. —Agencies