Markus Löning, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office, is to embark on a three-day visit to Pakistan tomorrow (19 August) at the request of Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

The purpose of his visit is to assess the situation on the ground and also signal to the people of Pakistan that Germany is there to support them. In this connection the Commissioner will meet with representatives of the Pakistan Government and talk to workers from UN agencies and German relief organizations.

During his visit to German aid projects on the ground, the Commissioner will see for himself how international assistance is starting to arrive, where the most urgent problems lie and how aid is reaching those in most critical need.