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UN Doubles Appeal for Pakistan Earthquake Aid
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=F84334:3919ACA

Secretary-General Kofi Annan expected to ask for almost $550 million
at conference of donor nations in Geneva, Wednesday





Pakistani quake survivors sit outside their damaged home in Chattar
plains near BatgramThe United Nations is now seeking nearly double the
amount of money it first requested to help earthquake victims in
Pakistan.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to ask for almost $550
million at a conference of donor nations in Geneva, Wednesday.  The
U.N. initially asked for $312 million, and says it only raised
one-third of the lower amount. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator in
Pakistan says disaster is "looming large" if relief supplies do not
soon reach people left homeless in remote mountain villages by the
October eighth quake.  The harsh winter season is just weeks away, and
snow will block supply routes.

Officials fear thousands of people could die without tents, food and
other supplies.  The death toll in Pakistan now stands at more than
54,000 people.

Pakistan says it will cost $5 billion to rebuild the areas destroyed
by the quake.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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