UN chief pledges support for Chile

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday that he will meet with members of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday to mobilize support for Chile's recovery from one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded.

Ban, who visited Chile on Saturday, said he established a joint-working group with Chile's government to identify the areas in need of urgent support.

Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General, said, "I stressed both the strong commitment of the United Nations to help the country to pick up the pieces and build back better. I have authorized ten million dollars from CERF, Central Emergency Response Fund. The United Nations and Chilean government will work very closely together."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits the Alto Rio apartment building that collapsed during the earthquake, in Concepcion March 6, 2010. REUTERS/Victor Ruiz Caballero