MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, November 18, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan toured quake-stricken Pakistan Friday, November 18, appealing for "gigantic" international efforts to help the nation recover.

Accompanied by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Annan flew to the mountainous northern city of Muzaffarabad to survey the scale of damage caused by the October 8 quake that killed more than 73,000 people and left 3.5 million homeless, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

"Seeing it and realizing that house after house has been destroyed, people have had to be moved into tents and some are still up in the mountains with the winter approaching, it is a really tragic and urgent situation and the scale is gigantic," Annan said.

Annan, accompanied by his wife Nane, met survivors of the quake, promising some that the reconstruction effort should provide better housing than that lost in the quake.

"We will do whatever we can," he said.

"When you look at the terrain here and the logistical challenges that had to be overcome in order to get aid to the people, it is a really gigantic task we have ahead of us."

The UN chief, who arrived in Pakistan Thursday on a three-day visit, said the visit had made him both impressed and depressed.

"Depressed by the number of houses that have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt.

"But impressed by the level of cooperation and determination that I have seen this morning," he said.

The UN chief saw medical staff administering anti-polio drops and measles jabs, as part of a massive vaccination campaign to ward off the threat of disease.

Survivors lost everything and their own lives are stake. (Reuters)

Annan called on the donor nations, due to meet in Islamabad Saturday, to meet obligations on offering the 5.2 billion dollars needed for reconstruction and relief.

"The figures seem big... But when you consider the magnitude of the task, it is not very much," Annan said at a UN camp of tents on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, most of which has been reduced to rubble.

"I hope governments and individuals and private organizations, those with capacity, will give and give willingly and generously to help our fellow human beings in need," he said.

"When so many people are affected none of us should be indifferent," said Annan, who is due to leave Pakistan on Saturday after addressing the donors' conference.

The Asian Development Bank Friday said 1.7 billion dollars was urgently needed to bring immediate relief to the quake survivors before the harsh Himalayan winter sets in.

The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, told Reuters Friday that the EU was to pledge $112 million in addition to about $200 million pledged by the member countries individually.

British International Development Minister Gareth Thomas said his government was pledging an extra $120 million, taking Britain's overall contribution up to $176 million.

ADB officials said the bank had lined up $405 million in aid, and details would be given at Saturday's conference.