SOUTH KOREA: U.N. chief attends a fund-raising event for African children

Record ID: 452257

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: U.N. chief attends a fund-raising event for African children
  • Date: 13th August 2011
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 10, 2011) (AGENCY POOL) BAN AND SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT LEE MYUNG-BAK ENTERING RECEPTION BAN AND LEE GREETING ATTENDEES VIEW OF RECEPTION BAN AND LEE BAN LEE SPEAKING BAN (RIGHT) AND FIRST LADY KIM YOON-OK (LEFT) ATTENDEES AT RECEPTION VARIOUS OF BAN AND LEE MAKING TOAST ATTENDEES APPLAUDING AFTER TOAST
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WJBKXZOHRR8AJP45VQONZZOM
  • Story Text: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon took part in a Red Cross event in the South Korean capital of Seoul on Friday (August 12) to raise money for African children.
    The Red Cross campaign under the slogan of 'Together for Africa' will raise funds for children living in some of the continent's poorest countries located in the Horn of Africa.
    Ban said he would do his best to help ease the suffering in the region.
    "You can count on me and I have a firm commitment that even during my five-year second term, this Africa challenge will continue to be my priority," said Ban.
    In July, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) appealed in a statement for funding for its $477 million U.S. dollar programme, and reported that the lives of half a million children in the region are at risk.
    "I received this shocking report that about 30,000 children died in the Horn of Africa during the last month. I'm continuing my effort to overcome this humanitarian crisis of famine in this region, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti," Ban said.
    Proceeds from the fund-raising, which was also attended by many South Korean celebrities, will be donated to the International Red Cross and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) who will oversee the African relief programme.
    The World Health Organization said child health in Somalia is already among the poorest in the world, and that about one in 11 babies die before their first birthday and one in seven before his or her fifth birthday.
    Earlier, Ban made his visit to the foreign ministry in Seoul where he served as a minister before he took the top job at the UN.
    Ban met current South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan to discuss various diplomatic issues.
    On Wednesday (August 10), Ban was invited to a presidential reception hosted by President Lee Myung-bak.
    Ban had urged South Korea to play a bigger global role in international humanitarian aid.
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