The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, will visit Pakistan on Aug. 29 to determine the extent of the damage caused by the floods. He will also estimate the size of the aid needed by millions of displaced Pakistanis and will coordinate relief work with OIC member states. In a statement to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, he described the situation in Pakistan as “very dangerous” with “no parallel in modern history”. He urged all the OIC member states to contribute generously and urgently to the Pakistanis affected by the floods. He said Pakistan cannot face a disaster of this size alone, stressing that no country in the world could deal with such a disaster on its own. About the OIC's call for creating an emergency fund to deal with disasters, he stressed that the OIC is going ahead to establish this fund. The member states are in dire need of this fund. Ihsanoglu and the Pakistan's Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani are scheduled to open a conference which includes the Red Crescent Society and relief organizations. Participants are scheduled to discuss essential aid and relief materials needed by affected citizens and means of transportation to flood-ravaged areas. He is also scheduled to visit affected areas in Punjab and meet with the Pakistan's president and a number of senior Pakistani officials.
