Earlier K. Annan said that the world was not ready for a global pandemic of bird flu and called for setting up a foundation to counter that dangerous disease. "The amount we are collecting is quite small in comparison with the damage a pandemic may cause", emphasized the UN Secretary-General.
K. Annan addressed an international conference on the collection of funds to fight bird flu, which ended in Peking today. The forum reported to have collected $1.9 billion. The World Bank has pledged to contribute about $500 million, the US $334 million, and the European Union about $250 million.
Russia is also ready to contribute over $30 million to fight the virus, allocating these funds to its neighbors in Central Asia and China.
