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Friends, image let Pakistan down
Most of the $315 million pledged will be distributed through the United Nations and foreign NGOs.
WFP workers load bags of flour for flood victim relief onto a US Marine helicopter. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: The international community will barely send a quarter of its aid through the government and that too mainly in the shape of goods instead of cash, as the country continues to be haunted by an “image deficit”.
Official documents reveal that bilateral and multilateral donors have so far pledged $315 million or 68.5 per cent of the appeal made by the United Nations for rescue and relief of over six million flood victims during the first 90 days.
Only $81.6 million goods or cash will come through government channels, documents revealed. Out of this, cash is less than $18 million or 5.7 per cent of the pledges. The remaining amount will also not be given to the government and be provided in the shape of tents, generators, medicines, blankets and food.
Interestingly, out of the $18 million cash promised, there is a $10 million soft loan from the Islamic Development Bank based in Saudi Arabia.
Countries like China and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s so-called time-tested friends, have even preferred to give goods instead of cash. China pledged to provide goods worth $9 million through the National Disaster Management Authority. Saudi Arabia also delivered relief goods worth $44 million through the government.
For its part, Turkey dared to provide $5 million through the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Malaysia also agreed to give $1 million through the PM Fund, while Japan committed to provide some cash in addition to relief goods.
The Japanese government’s total commitments amount to over $13 million.
“The situation is so grave that the government has decided to give a special presentation on relief efforts by donor agencies to President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday,” said a senior official of the Finance Ministry on condition of anonymity.
The United Nations has been struggling to obtain $460 million to provide emergency assistance to over six million out of the 20 million flood-affected people.
The UN spokesperson for the office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Maurizio Giuliano, has warned of a “second wave of death” unless more donors come out to provide funds.
Of the $315 million pledged, a major chunk of $216.6 million will be distributed through the United Nations and its agencies and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs).
The donors have committed to provide $176.8 million cash ($18 million through government channels) and $112 million worth of goods, of which relief goods worth $64.3 million will be sent through the government.
Two former army generals, who have worked with the National Disaster Management Authority and the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, said that the money spent on relief and reconstruction through donors and INGOs should be audited as well. They were of the view that their accounts should be presented before the Public Accounts Committee to explain overheads.
Both generals said that the accounts of the aid spent on rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas were never presented for an audit. They said there was a legal lacuna (gap) in auditing the NGO’s accounts that needs to be addressed.
So far, Australia has pledged to provide $9 million, Belgium has committed $0.64 million and Brazil $0.5 million through UN agencies.
Meanwhile, Canada has pledged $2 million through the World Food Programme, Denmark $11 million through NGOs, Egypt has delivered $0.25 million worth of goods, the EU $25.6 million through the UN and NGOs, Finland $1.5 million and France $1.3 million through the UN and French agencies. Morocco has given $2 million cash.
Indonesia has provided $ one million, Italy delivered $3.2 million and Japan $3.2 million worth of goods. Kuwait has given $5 million, Norway $5 million and Sweden $4.5 million through UN agencies.
The UK has committed to provide $32 million through the UN and the US has pledged $76 million mainly through the USAID.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2010.
Reader Comments (19)
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This shows countries that have given millions in aid only by means of goods have for sure come to know that if they give cash it will not reach to the needy, Instead gave goods, how much can politicians hold back may be a ton or two at least remaining will reach to the needy people. It is time for Pakistani politicians to understand and reflect how trusted they are not only in Pakistan but also across the globe.Recommend
Dear Shahbaz,
I beg to strongly differ with the title of your peice. No one has let us down, its WE who are to be blamed, its our so called political, military, Bureaucratic leaders who have brought us down to this shame. Why blames others when we can’t keep our pockets buttoned.Recommend
Mr. Shahbaz,
Why have you purposely ignored to mention $5 million offer made by India with promise to increase it if Pakistan requested. It is so sad to note that Pakistan officials all over the world have been begging countries to donate while refusing to acknowledge donations from India. I wonder what is stored for Pakistan in future.Recommend
It is not only the foreign governments that dont trust pakistan. At the mosque here last jumaa, folks were collecting money for the pakistani floods. Even the pakistanis here specifically confirmed before donating that the donations will not be channeled via the pakistan government. No one, including myself will pay anything into the government accounts headed by zardari when there are more honest options like edhi and imran khan available.Recommend
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.First of all distrust of donors on Pakistan is tit for tat because our image in the world is corrupt and dishonest and it is known that P0akistani leaders have millions of dollars’ foreign currency accounts in Swiss,American and British banks and it has also been seen in the past that Pakistani official didn’t assist the natural calamities affected persons completely.In my suggestion donors have not to give aid directly to the Pakistani leaders and should give spend all the aid thru UNO and under their own supervision so that more and more affected people could be treated in the most exact ways.Recommend
The title should be “Pakistani Politicians let Pakistan down”, and deep down if you soul search it is the very “Pakistanis who let Pakistan down”. The simple reason is the we are corrupt in every way. We sell very cheaply, and that can be seen in TTP, and even the very own political governments. The world has seen that the corrupt becomes the ruler, defies the judiciary, plays with powers to benefit culprits, and so it is the law of the jungle. Even a dog cleans the place with his tail, before sitting down. We are suppose to be human beings, and are even worse than the animal traits out there.Recommend
Yet another crown has been bestowed upon the people of Pakistan… A Nation with “Image Deficit”. Who is to be blamed for this dilemma is separate debate but the fact is that once again the victim will be poor and suffering people of Pakistan. I really feel sorry to mention here that When ever any disaster strikes our country, it brings joy among our ruling classes, civil & military bureaucracy, politicians if there is a political government in country. They all expect heavy aid, donations, tenders for reconstruction work etc. Now after the rescue operation is completed and the rehabilitation work begins, there will start new tug of war to get postings in flood affected areas as there will be huge funds for reconstruction work. This evil penetrated in our society during the dictatorship era of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq and reached its acme during the reign of Gen. Pervez Musharaf. Now this is the time to change our mentality and start giving good image to the world to reduce this “image Deficit”.Recommend
This image deficit had been created by a part of the media due to a simple reason of embarrassing Musharaf & his government on the behest of a few politicians.
Media is independent but should not work against the countries interests. These people don’t care about anything except their ratings.
The need to realize their responsibilities & act in an independent & unbiased manner.Recommend
It’s a good sign that almost 68.5 % or $ 315 million of the total (appeal made by UN) have been pledged by multilateral and bilateral donors so far. But most of it is not coming through government channels, but is being routed through NGO’s and other agencies. Trust deficit is perhaps the biggest hurdle in the receipt of aid in these hard times; I hope it is perceived as a lesson and corruption is avoided in the future.Recommend
Army Generals call for audits! What a joke! Perhaps they should have set a precedent within the army before calling for others to be audited.Recommend
Why does Zardari Nawaz &other politicians who own millions of dollars generated from pakistan donate only half of their money the crisis will be over.Recommend
Its about time the donors have realized our government is not worthy of any trust, especially in money matters. And the aid stuff must be audited.Recommend
I agree with Rajesh. There is no reason why we should not accept the $5m aid from India. Remember it is not a matter of pride but a simple matter of taking care of 20million people who honestly couldn’t give a hoot between the age old rivalry between the two countries. Also, I would make the case that India is best positioned at the moment to send food and other urgently needed materials as it is just next door.Recommend
well sorry to say this folks but there is also an AID fatigue wrt. pakistan in the West. pakistan has be asking for AID for decades now – for fight against terrorism it supoorted, for fight against poverty & so on. innocent people are being made to suffer because of corruption and political ego’s. It very sad truth that the inception of pakistan was laid to satisfy the ego of one man.
People in the west are simply tired of sending more aid to pakistan after all the reports for double games its rulers have be indulging in. pakistan now faces the risk of a big civil war i guess.Recommend
The media needs to share the blame, because it made Benazir Bhutto a heroine after her murder, although she had been a parntner in crime with Zardari. It was due to their hype that People’s Party, ehere the crooks predominate, came into power.Recommend
The country needs to ask someone like Kofi Annan to head a panel comprised of President Clinton, George W. Bush, Tony Blair and President Musharraf to raise and monitor funds not for the immediate relief but for the proper development of infrastructure and resettlement of the effecties. They cannot be sent to where they were displaced from. What is the gurantee that the country will not be in the same situation next year? And are we ready for a major disaster, say in a city like Lahore or Karachi. The present leadership has a trust deficit which cannot be overcome, and does not evoke sympathy, which is greatly needed now and long time to come.Recommend
Let this be a lesson for Pakistan. None of our so-called Muslim brother countries care. Where are Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Iran, and the wealthy Arab and Gulf nations that sit on billions of dollars? Yes our people, policies, and politicians are to blame. But humanitarian aid per Islamic spirit of charity and Muslim fraternity must be independant of these political factors.
We rush to the streets to protest against injustices against Muslims all over the world and have become self-proclaimed standard-bearers of all causes Islamic. But no one cares for us in our greatest hour of need. They throw pocket change at us our Muslim brothers.
Wake up Pakistan. It’s time to clean up our own house and forget about the rest of the ummah.Recommend
wow, not a single mention of India that has given US $ 25 million.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100918/890/twl-india-gives-pakistan-20-mn-for-flood.html
Wonder why, there is the trust deficit. It’s because Pakistan does not acknowledge what others do for it in their hour of need.Recommend
[link text][1]
Sir ,
Mohammad Iqbal School teacher from Mardan …..my building 11 rooms concrete building has been collapse in flood all rooms with 100 feet varenda on the earth.Alhamdoolilah Ihave no need for shelter here but I need for rehabilitation to rebuilt this building …….If no one can help me just gave me loan for this rebuilding but with out interest.Because i am also father of six daughters I am very upset and always all night not sleep always thinking about it …..
Any one in Pakistan who can help me or abroad the country gave me loan with out interest .Up to day I did not get just one peni or any add I am a Governement servant never say lie because what i am writing here its on the record if there is some attachment place i will must attached photo of this building which so cruely has been collapse and how was it
I can only pray for those who help me nothing more
Mohammad Iqbal Mardan 0300-9175216Recommend