| UNESCO Director-General to visit flood zones in Pakistan |
|
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova will visit flood-stricken zones and meet with national and regional authorities during a visit to Pakistan on 31 August 2010.
UNESCO Press Release No. 2010–106 UNESCO Director-General to visit flood zones in Pakistan Paris, 30 August – UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova will visit flood-stricken zones and meet with national and regional authorities during a visit to Pakistan on 31 August. She will also take part in a press conference of United Nations Chief Executive officers to present UN efforts to save lives and rebuild communities in Pakistan. During the visit, Irina Bokova will meet with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, the Minister of Education Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, the Minister for Culture Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani and other national authorities to discuss ways in which UNESCO can most effectively support the national rescue and relief effort in the short, medium and long term. The Director-General will travel to the city of Nowshera in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, one of the most severely flood-affected regions, and visit the Kandar camp for flood refugees. “UNESCO stands firmly by the people of Pakistan in this time of need and the Organization will do everything in its power and its fields of expertise to support the relief effort underway for the millions of people who have suffered so much in these calamitous floods”, said Irina Bokova prior to her departure. “We have already dispatched experts to help improve Pakistan's capacity to manage floods and related geohazards, and reinforced our office in Islamabad. This visit, and the discussions with Pakistan's decision-makers will further clarify the needs and the best way for UNESCO to respond”. On the evening of Tuesday 31 August, Irina Bokova will participate in a press conference to present action undertaken by the United Nations to help Pakistan recover from the disastrous floods, which have affected an estimated 20 million people. Statements will also be made by UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, World Food Programme Executive Director Josette Sheeran, and Jean Maurice Ripert, the Special Envoy to Pakistan of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki moon. The press conference will be held at the Hotel Serena at 5. 15 pm.
***** |