Thursday, October 20 2005 09:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: In an effort to spur international donors, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for 'immediate and exceptional escalation' of global relief efforts for Pakistan's earthquake victims.

Annan warned that a 'second, massive' wave of death would sweep through devastated areas if the international community fails to contribute funds sought by the world body.

"There are no excuses. If we are to show ourselves worthy of calling ourselves members of humankind, we must rise to this challenge. Our response will be no less than a measure of our humanity," he stressed.

Annan made the appeal at an unscheduled press conference yesterday (Oct 19, 2005) as UN humanitarian agencies warned that 10,000 children could die within the next few weeks of hunger and hypothermia in Pakistan. Besides, tens of thousands were in peril because of worsening weather, injury and illness.

So far firm commitments for only US$ 37 million, or 12 per cent, of the UN Flash Appeal of US$ 312 million have been made. In comparison, the Indian Ocean tsunami Flash Appeal at the beginning of the year was 80 per cent funded within 10 days of the disaster.

Analysts attribute it to donor fatigue in a year, which has witnessed several disasters.

Annan asked the international community to immediately provide 450,000 more winterized tents and temporary shelters and two million blankets and sleeping bags to help the victims of the quake which has already killed an estimated 42,000, injured 67,000 and left some three million homeless.

He urged key donors and organizations, including NATO and the OIC, to mobilize the assets of its member states to meet the unprecedented logistical challenges.