ReliefWeb

(Islamabad/New York/Geneva: 2 December 2010): Ms. Valerie Amos, United Nations Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), arrives today on her second visit to flood-hit Pakistan for a three-day mission, four months after one of the worst floods in history struck.

"Humanitarian work is about reaching people affected by crises, providing emergency assistance, and supporting them through the most difficult time," said Ms. Amos. "Sadly, these difficult times are not over yet and much of the work is still ahead."

The primary purpose of her visit is to emphasize the continued commitment to the people of Pakistan during this extraordinary crisis.

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners, working alongside the Government of Pakistan, have already reached millions of affected people with life-saving assistance and are working to assist many millions more through recovery activities. Organizations responding to the crisis requested nearly US$1.94 billion to cover humanitarian and recovery activities. So far, $958 million has been received - 49% of what is needed.

"What we have is sufficient for the immediate future, and I would like to thank our donors," said Ms. Amos. "But we all need to do more. We must work together to help people to get back on their feet as soon as possible and assist them to resume their livelihoods," she added.

Pakistan's heavy monsoon rains and floods, which started at the end of July, affected an estimated 18 million people and washed away entire communities. Thanks to the work of the Government, United Nations agencies, national and international organisations, major health crises have so far been averted. Millions of people have now have access to safe drinking water, sanitation, food, and emergency shelter.

The majority of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab have returned to their home districts and have begun the long road to recovery.

"At this moment we must stand up to the challenge and continue to assist the people of Pakistan to rebuild their lives," said Ms. Amos.

For further information, please call: OCHA Islamabad: Stacey Winston, +92 300 8502397, winston@un.org, OCHA New York:

Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 347 244 2106 Nicholas Reader, +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org, OCHA Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int