China on Friday announced its decision to provide an additional 50 million yuan (about US$7.37 million) worth of humanitarian supplies to the Pakistani government as "the latest developments suggest that the flooding in Pakistan may pose an unprecedented humanitarian challenge."

The announcement came as Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was speaking at a plenary General Assembly session on flood-devastated Pakistan, which entered its second day on Friday.

"The first batch of relief supplies has arrived at the affected areas on Aug. 19, which included 30 tons of food, 1,200 tents, 1, 000 power generators, 23,800 blankets as well as medicine, mineral water and water purification equipment," Li said. "The rest of the relief supplies will be delivered on Aug. 20."

"The Chinese government will continue to do what it can to provide assistance to Pakistan in the light of the developments of the disaster," he said.

Immediately after the flooding occurred, "China acted promptly to provide humanitarian support and assistance to Pakistan, showing the profound friendship between the Chinese and Pakistani governments and people," he noted.

On Aug. 4, around 80 tons of urgently needed relief supplies provided by the Chinese government arrived in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, including tents, medicine, power generators and water purification equipment worth 10 million yuan (about US$1.47 million), he said.

"The latest developments suggest that the flooding in Pakistan may pose an unprecedented humanitarian challenge," Li said. "The monsoon rains in the weeks ahead will once again put to test the humanitarian response capacity of Pakistan and the international community."

"The flood is merciless, but the world is full of sympathy and compassion," he said. "With tens of millions of people in the affected areas in Pakistan, including several million children, waiting anxiously for food, drinking water, medicine and temporary shelters, we must take action immediately to pool our collective efforts and mobilize all available relief resources and moral support across the world."

"The rarely seen massive floods during this year's monsoon season in Pakistan have affected about 20 million people, and left thousands of people dead or missing," Li said. "On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I wish to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the government and people of Pakistan for the loss of life and property caused by the recent floods."

Meanwhile, Li also commended the Pakistani government and the United Nations for their timely and effective response to the disaster.

"We have noted that, under the leadership and with the coordination of the Pakistani government, the relief efforts are now in full swing," he said. "The Chinese government also commends the timely and effective response of (UN) Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon, (and) relevant UN agencies" to support the disaster relief efforts of Pakistan.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2010)