Former US President Bush, UN envoy, helps plan Pakistan quake recovery

The United Nations Special Envoy for the South Asia Earthquake, former United States President George H. W. Bush, met with United Nations officials today on the launch of the recovery phase in areas of Pakistan devastated by the October 2005 disaster, which killed more than 73,000 people, injured nearly 70,000 and left millions homeless.

“They also highlighted the importance of ensuring continued support and funding during this critical transition period, in order to build upon the success of the relief phase,” a UN spokesman said of the meeting, which included Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland and Administrator Kemal Dervis of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Earlier this month, UN humanitarian officials said that the recovery stage is expected to cover a one year period starting in April 2006 and has been prepared in close collaboration with Pakistani military and civil authorities.