UN FOUNDATION COMMITS $1 MILLION TO SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, SETS UP FUND FOR RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION EFFORTS

UN FOUNDATION COMMITS $1 MILLION TO SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF,

SETS UP FUND FOR RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION EFFORTS

NEW YORK, 12 October (UNFIP) -- The United Nations Foundation Board has announced a commitment of $1 million to United Nations earthquake relief initiatives in South Asia.  This commitment will help support the United Nations immediate response in the affected countries of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, build critical communications and logistics capacities, and support the United Nations aid coordination role.

In addition, the United Nations Foundation established the South Asia Earthquake Response Fund to allow individual donations in support of United Nations emergency relief, reconstruction, and rehabilitation efforts.

“Once again, survivors of disaster have turned to the UN and the international community in their time of need”, said Ted Turner, Founder and Chairman of the UN Foundation.

“The world needs the UN’s leadership in these times, and the UN needs the world’s support.  We are communicating with the UN and its agencies to learn where UN Foundation funds may be of greatest assistance to the UN’s relief efforts.”

Working closely with its direct United Nations counterpart, the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), the UN Foundation is also partnering with a number of corporations, foundations, and donors around the world to support both the immediate United Nations relief efforts already under way, and further rehabilitation efforts down the road.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, who is Chair of the UNFIP Advisory Board, said “The UN Foundation is a trusted partner, bringing the energy and commitment of global corporate citizens and others to the challenges and crisis facing the world’s citizens.  Natural catastrophes like this earthquake in Pakistan and floods in Latin America push families over the brink.  They are fighting for their lives.  It is so important to have global partners working with us to save lives.”

“I am deeply saddened by the devastation in my country and my thoughts go out to all of the victims”, said Nafis Sadik, a native of Pakistan who is a Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, former Director of the United Nations Population Fund and current member of the UN Foundation Board.  She added, “I am grateful for the lifesaving work of the United Nations and the support of the UN Foundation.”

N.R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies Limited in India and also a UN Foundation Board member, said it was encouraging to see India and Pakistan working together, the international community’s quick response, and the United Nations unique ability to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies.

The United Nations, working closely with national authorities, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, non-governmental organizations and donors, is coordinating the relief effort.  “We are grateful to the UN Foundation for setting up a mechanism to facilitate contributions from generous private donors”, said Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The United Nations Disaster Management Team in Islamabad has undertaken rapid assessment missions to the affected areas and determined the most urgent needs.  United Nations staff across the globe have been mobilized to deliver relief goods including 120 tons of high-energy biscuits, 17,000 blankets, 300,000 water-purification tablets, 12,000 sweaters, 10,000 pairs of children’s boots, hospital tents, family tents, plastic sheeting, mattresses, kitchen sets, emergency lamps, and soap; thousands of personal hygiene kits for women and emergency baby delivery kits; and 17 national surgical teams.  They also provided the Ministry of Health with two new Emergency Health and Trauma kits, containing medical supplies that will help 10,000 people for three months.

To learn more about the Fund and the United Nations relief work, visit www.unfoundation.org.

For more information contact:  Camilla Schippa, Outreach Officer, UNFIP at e-mail:  schippa@un.org or tel.:  212-963-3441; Elizabeth Alexander, UNF, tel.:  202-887-9040; or Amy DiElsi, UNF, tel.:  202-419-3230.

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For information media • not an official record