UNITED NATIONS: Former U.S. President George Bush is appointed special U.N. envoy for Pakistan earthquake relief.

Record ID: 191272

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: Former U.S. President George Bush is appointed special U.N. envoy for Pakistan earthquake relief.
  • Date: 16th December 2005
  • Summary: CLOSE OF REPORTER ASKING WHETHER BUSH SR. WILL BE VISITING PAKISTAN
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA71VCCLVV7AGIC5IJYT5P7XQOE
  • Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed former U.S. President George Bush as a special U.N. envoy for Pakistan earthquake relief, on Thursday (December 15).
    Bush, the father of the current U.S. president, had been working with another former President Bill Clinton to raise money for victims of last December's Asian tsunami as well as the hurricane Katrina disaster.
    The two teamed up to help raise money to assist hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. Gulf Coast. Clinton, a Democrat who defeated Republican Bush in the 1992 U.S. presidential election, is the United Nation's envoy for tsunami relief.
    At a news conference at the United Nations announcing Bush Senior's appointment, Annan said, "Former President Bush will lead the overall effort of the United Nations family in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake in South Asia."
    The October 8 quake this year killed more than 73,000 people in Pakistan and left about three million homeless.
    The international community has promised Pakistan more than $6 billion in aid, with most of that earmarked for long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction.
    The United Nations is seeking $550 million for a six-month relief operation, but so far donors have only given a fraction of that amount.
    Bush Senior's primary responsibility will be to help in collecting the pledged aid and to encourage further contribution by countries. Speaking at the news conference, the former U.S. President outlined his role and also said that he does not think that donor-fatigue is rampant.
    Bush Sr. said, "Our role as the Secretary-General has said is to try to help get the pledges and there have been very generous pledges made, have those converted into things that can really benefit the people that are hurting over there in terrible weather, terrible environment condition and I think I can help and I certainly want to try."
    When asked whether he would travel to Pakistan and meet with the leaders there, Bush Sr. said, "I definitely will be going over there (Pakistan), first of all, first importance for me would be talking to the leaders of Pakistan, but almost equally as important, is (unclear) to see myself what Mark Malloch Brown and Kevin Kennedy and others in the U.N., very effective U.N. team, Ann Veneman, have seen and I think somehow if you see it, kick the tyres and see what's going on, you have a better feeling for what you have to do."
    During the news conference Annan emphasized how Pakistan earthquake relief still faces a momentous funding challenge.
    He said: "Pakistan needs real help following this unprecedented catastrophe, both in the longer term and the immediate. Every delay in funding poses grave risks to thousands of injured, hungry and homeless people, and ofcourse the momentous task of reconstruction means that we must all work together for the longer term. I want to once again thank you Mr. President for taking on this challenge."
    The former U.S. President will begin his duties as a U.N. envoy in the earlier part of January 2006.
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