India hands over $20 million for Pakistan flood relief to UN

India today handed over a cheque of $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 UN 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.

"This is a small but significant gesture from the highest levels of the Indian government conveying that the people of India stand by the people of Pakistan in their hour of need," Puri said and added that India has given an additional $5 million to the World Food Programme.

India announced the aid to Pakistan last month after the worst-ever floods in that country and Islamabad accepted the offer after dithering for a week.

Last month, the UN launched an appeal of $460 million to assist the country in its emergency relief efforts, out of which about 70% has been funded and Islamabad has received another 400 million in bilateral contributions.