BAN OFFERS UN AID TO VICTIMS DURING UNPLANNED VISIT TO MEXICAN FLOOD ZONE

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made an unplanned visit on Tuesday to the northern suburbs of Mexico City where he personally consoled victims of the severe flash floods that hit the area and offered the assistance of the United Nations.

Mr. Ban, who is on a two-day visit to Mexico, arrived in the flood-affected area by helicopter along with President Felipe Calderon and the Governor of the State of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto.

He saw firsthand the recent devastation, which included destroyed homes and damaged public works, and personally consoled victims and interacted with the newly displaced.

Prior to the visit to the flood-affected area, Mr. Ban and President Calderon had a constructive meeting on issues of mutual interest, including climate change and disaster risk reduction, according to a UN spokesperson.

Today the Secretary-General is scheduled to open the annual UN Department of Public Information (DPI) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Conference, which this year focuses on disarmament.

Over 1,700 representatives from NGOs and experts from 70 countries are expected at the three-day gathering in Mexico City, whose theme is "For Peace and Development: Disarm Now!"