By NNN-PTI,
United Nations : India has handed over a cheque of USD 20 million to UN chief Ban Ki-moon for relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected in Pakistan, after Islamabad’s insistence that the aid be routed through the world body.
Welcoming the contribution from the Indian government, Ban said: “I hope this money will be used for those who really need the warm hands of the international community.”
India decided to send the money through the UN after Pakistan requested it to do so as the world body is coordinating the relief and rehabilitation programme.
“Natural disasters do not respect national boundaries,” India’s Envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri said after handing over the cheque to Ban in the presence of Pakistan’s envoy to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon.