The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, made a three-day visit to Pakistan from 17 November 2005. He and Mrs Annan visited Muzaffarabad to see the relief operations undertaken by the United Nations, NGOs and international organisations in support of the efforts of the Government and military of Pakistan. Mr Annan also had meetings with the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister before attending the donors' conference on 19 November.
The South Asia Earthquake of 8 October 2005 caused the death of more than 73,000 people and nearly 70,000 people seriously injured. With the advent of winter, the movements of people coming down from mountainous and remote villages to the lower grounds continue. Muzaffarabad is one of such centres that are experiencing a rapid influx of people from higher terrains around them. Camps are set up to accommodate internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the Secretary-General visited one of the camps in Muzaffarabad. The current priority of the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations is to reduce the risk of thousands more deaths from cold, disease and hunger.
When the earthquake hit the region, the UN Secretary-General immediately acknowledged the urgent need of relief operations, and he sent the Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Jan Egeland, to Pakistan to assess the situation. The Secretary-General attended the ministerial-level conference at Geneva on 26 October during which a revised Flash Appeal totaling nearly $550 million for six months was presented. In the conference, he urged the donor community to provide aid and shelter to the devastated areas before winter hits the region.
The UN Secretary-General visiting a family at Turi Park Camp in Muzaffarabad
The UN Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan talking to a family in a camp.
Kofi Annan addressing to the public in Muzaffarabad
Briefing on the relief operations to the UN Secretary-General by the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator at the UN Camp in Muzaffarabad
Presdient Musharraf and the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan visiting a school for the orphans in Hatian, Attock
The UN Secretary-General addressing to a press conference at Serena Hotel Islamabad
18 November 2005
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