U.N. dispatches flood envoy to Pakistan

[Turborama]

Source: UPI

A special envoy was dispatched to Pakistan to mobilize support for the response to the devastating monsoon floods, the U.N. secretary-general announced.

Monsoon rains have drenched Pakistan, leaving many rivers swollen with flood waters. At least 1,500 people were killed during the flood, sparking an international response to the crisis in the northwest of the country.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dispatched his special envoy for assistance to Pakistan, Jean-Maurice Ripert, to Pakistan to join U.N. relief efforts under way in the country.

"The special envoy, along with the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator, will help mobilize support from the international community to assist the government of Pakistan in addressing the urgent, immediate needs of the population in the affected areas and in planning for the early recovery and reconstruction period," a statement from Ban read.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/08/05/UN-dispatches-flood-envoy-to-Pakistan/UPI-27361281012535/