The flooding in Pakistan is “one of the greatest tests of global solidarity in our times,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at a special meeting today of the world body’s 192 member governments. “This is a global disaster, a global challenge,” Ban said at the opening of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, held to focus attention on the disaster and yield more aid for Pakistan. “This disaster is far from over. Pakistan is facing a slow-motion tsunami.” Ban said the UN has received half of the $460 million requested for emergency aid. Pakistan still needs a “flood of support,” he said. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are among more than 40 diplomats scheduled to address the meeting. The U.S. will offer an additional $60 million in emergency aid to Pakistan, raising the total to $150 million, Clinton said in an interview with Pakistan’s Dawn TV. In a separate video released by the State Department, Clinton announced a relief fund that will accept personal contributions from Americans. Germany will add $32 million, bringing its total to more than $50 million, according to the text of remarks to be delivered by Minister of State Werner Hoyer. The 20 million people affected by the floods exceed the combined total of those displaced by the 2004 Asian tsunami and the earthquakes in Haiti. Ban said 8 million people need food, water and shelter and 14 million need health care. Agricultural losses would exceed $1 billion, he said.
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