Davos, Switzerland - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community Thursday to provide quick assistance for the people in conflict-torn Gaza Strip.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ban issued a so-called flash appeal for urgently needed assistance worth 613 million dollars in order to help the 1.4 million Gaza residents.

"Everywhere I went I saw evidence for critical humanitarian needs," Ban said in reporting on his recent fact-finding visit to the Gaza Strip after the intense three-week Israeli air strikes.

The UN chief said the entire international community, including Israel, should participate in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. dpa