MaximsNewsNetwork: 05 October 2009 - UNTV: WFP: Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says that the suicide bomb attack that killed five UN employees at the offices of the WFP in the Pakistan was unjustifiable adding that it will not deter the UN from delivering much needed humanitarian assistance to over 2 million displaced people in the South Asian country.
Speaking in Geneva today, Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon said that the suicide bomb attack that killed five United Nations (UN) employees at the offices of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Pakistan was unjustifiable adding that it will not deter the UN from delivering much needed humanitarian assistance to over 2 million displaced people in the South Asian country.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General,United Nations:
"I condemn in the strongest terms the attack at the Office of the WFP in Islamabad. This is a terrible tragedy for the UN and for the whole humanitarian community in Pakistan. This is a heinous crime committed against those who have been working tirelessly to assist the poor and the vulnerable on the frontlines of hunger and other human suffering in Pakistan. My deepest condolences go to the colleagues fallen in the line of duty for noble causes and their families and friends."
The attack, which took place at 12:15 local time left scores of others injured, some in critical condition.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General,United Nations:
United Nations and many humanitarian workers, NGO's, they are there to help people. They need our assistance, they are very vulnerable people; we have to help them, so that they can be integrated and so that they can return to their own homes. That's our commitment and we will continue.
Four of those killed were Pakistani nationals; the fifth victim was an Iraqi national who worked as an Information and Communication Technology Officer.
WFP is providing vital food assistance to as many as 10 million people across Pakistan, including emergency relief to as many as 2 million Pakistani civilians who were displaced by conflict in the Swat Valley region earlier this year.
The Secretary-General is in Geneva for the opening of ITU Telecom World, one of the information and communication technologies industry's biggest fairs. Ban urged the industry to think up fresh ideas to harness technology and usher in a green economy.
SOUNDBITE (English) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
"We all know that ICTs have revolutionized our world. My main interest is how these technologies are creating new possibilities for the United Nations to achieve its goals of peace, human rights and development. ICTs are also vital to confronting one of the greatest problems we face as a planet: the threat of climate change."
He also highlighted an example in which the United Nations has teamed up with mobile phone companies and other partners to transmit weather news to African farmers through text messages to their mobile phones. Ban called on the industry to come up with more of such innovations.
SOUNDBITE (English) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
"I stand before you as the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. But, more important, I am proud to say that I am the first Secretary-General to use Twitter!"
ITU's Telecom 2009 conference on telecommunications and internet-based mediums of information and communication began today in Geneva. 40,000 professionals are expected to attend this event.
MaximsNewsNetwork:
News Network for the United Nations and the International Community.
See: http://www.MaximsNews.com.
"GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"
.
Loading...
3:48The Face of Hunger in DPR Koreaby WORLDFOODPROGRAM22,755 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)