Ban’s call to help Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday he had never seen anything like the flood disaster in Pakistan after surveying the devastation and urged foreign donors to speed up assistance to the 20 million people affected.Ban’s comments reflect the concern of the international community about the unfolding disaster in Pakistan, which is battling al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, has a weak and unpopular government, and an anemic economy propped up by international assistance.“This has been a heart-wrenching day for me,” Ban said after flying over the hard-hit areas with President Asif Ali Zardari. (AP)