CANBERRA: Australia's new foreign minister flew to Pakistan on Wednesday to see the flood disaster there firsthand before urging UN countries to give more emergency relief.
Kevin Rudd, the former prime minister, left Canberra a day after he was sworn in as foreign minister in the government of his replacement, the recently re-elected Julia Gillard.
Before leaving, Rudd said he feared a massive outbreak of waterborne diseases would create a humanitarian disaster in Pakistan, where 20 million people are affected by flooding.
''It's quite plain that we're in the process of seeing a slow burn humanitarian disaster in that country — a humanitarian disaster potentially of horrendous proportions,'' Rudd told reporters at Parliament House.
Rudd said he plans to ask a meeting in New York of UN-member countries supporting Pakistan to give more.
''The international community needs to do more,'' Rudd said. ''We do not want to turn around in three and six months time and ask ourselves this question: What more could we have done or should we have done to avert a humanitarian disaster?''
Rudd said Australia was the fifth most generous donor to the Pakistan flood relief effort, having already contributed 35 million Australian dollars.
After Pakistan, Rudd will visit Washington on Friday where he will discuss the Afghan war with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones. Australia has 1,550 troops in Afghanistan supporting the US-led international alliance.
While in New York, Rudd will stand in for Gillard to deliver an annual speech to the UN General Assembly. He will also attend UN forums on reducing global poverty and promoting sustainable development.
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