UNITED NATIONS, Nov 15: The United Nations General Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution tabled by Pakistan calling on the UN to mobilize the international community to address the medium- and long-term reconstruction needs of the areas affected by last month’s earthquake.

The resolution entitled ‘Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of South Asia earthquake disaster’ was co-sponsored by 133 countries from all regions and continents.

The General Assembly requested the UN secretary-general to appoint a special envoy in order to, among other things, sustain the political will of the international community to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk-reduction efforts.

The resolution welcomed the proposed convening of the international donors’ conference for reconstruction in Islamabad on Nov 19 and invited the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other international and regional financial institutions and the UN to mobilize the international community to address the reconstruction needs of the affected areas.

The resolution emphasized the need for the international community to maintain its focus beyond the present emergency relief to support the medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk-reduction efforts led by the government of Pakistan.

It expressed deep sympathy for the victims, their families and the people of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and other affected areas, who suffered huge losses in the earthquake.

Our correspondent in Washington adds: US lawmakers have urged President George Bush to give half of the funds set aside for disaster relief to Pakistan and engage international donors to raise more money for the victims of the earthquake.

Last week, the US House of Representatives set aside $365 million for international disaster and famine assistance as part of an appropriations bill for foreign operations, export financing and related programmes for the fiscal year ending Sept 30, 2006.

The house also took note of “the tragic earthquake in Pakistan,” saying it’s “aware that additional funds, including the reprogramming of funds contained (in the bill) … may be needed to address the needs caused by this tragedy.”

“Given the gravity of the need that exists in this devastated region, I ask that you channel at least half of the aforementioned funds to serve this exigent situation,” says Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in a letter faxed to President Bush.

Writing in her capacity as co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, Ms Lee reminds the president that the earthquake has killed more than 79,000 in Pakistan and 1,500 in India, while over 74,000 are injured. She notes that more than 15,000 schoolchildren are believed to have died in the earthquake.

“Furthermore, the severity of the disaster has left over three million people homeless. Due to severe cold weather and lack of shelter and urgent medical attention, this negative trend is expected to exacerbate,” she says.

She also asks the president to “reiterate your encouragement to donor nations to make good on their pledges and to expedite resources to the South Asia region. Mr president, we can save lives, but we must act with a sense of urgency and we must call upon our friends to respond swiftly,” she concludes.