Less than a third of the United Nations’ $357 million floods appeal for 2011 has been met and organisations such as Oxfam, Save the Children, Care and umbrella group Acted are urging donors to give more or see aid flows stop.
Five million people have been affected by floods in Sindh. Supplies of clean water, sanitation, food, shelter and healthcare are all under severe threat and impoverished farmers in the waterlogged province of Sindh, which is still reeling from last year’s massive flooding, face losing yet another winter crop, just as the cold weather closes in.
“Over two months into the crisis, millions of people are still without basics. If relief operations stop, it could lead to an unimaginable catastrophe,” said Neva Khan, Oxfam’s country director in Pakistan.
“The sort of things that we’re really concerned about are those very basic humanitarian essentials like access to clean water and sanitation which over 60% of the affected population at the moment still don’t have access to,” Khan said, adding that with winter approaching fast, millions of people who are still without shelter will be left out in the cold.
Save the Children has raised only 35% of its required funds, while Care faces a shortfall of 91%.
The US and the European Commission have given the most money to the UN appeal, donating $13.4 million and $20.6 million respectively.
Stacey Winston, from the UN said the 2011 fund “remains distressingly underfunded with a 73% shortfall and if more funding is not received relief supplies will run out within weeks.”
According to official figures, more than 1.58 million homes in Sindh and 26,000 in neighbouring Balochistan have been damaged in the flood disaster. About 800,000 people remain displaced. Latest estimates suggest that three million people are in urgent need of emergency food supplies.
“We had expected the situation to stabilise by now but conditions are going from bad to worse,” warned Save the Children’s Pakistan Country Director David Wright. “Malnutrition levels among children under five are among some of our worst-recorded cases.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2011.
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Where are the chinese friends of Pakistan
Just divert some of the funds that are being spent to build nuclear weapons and this would not be a problem for anyone.
Basically the corrupt practices stop the others to help us. The donors donot have the confidence that where the money sent by them would go. A system must be evolved to root out corruption to gain the confidence of world community. Pakistan be responsive to the prevention of such happenings in the future. A proactive approach might a better option.
IK is yelling for his personal goal to become the prime minister of Pakistan.. he see dengue as created by CM punjab... is he blind? cant he see this...
Yes, its all very sad !!! But its blatantly obvious that their own Govt does not care for them, so why should the rest of the Global Community be bothered in present economic climate ??? The Govt or the people of Pakistan did not learn or implement any changes or improvements, even after last year's disaster, hence another disaster this year !!
These people are suffering because they are Pakistanis. It seem the world is not willing to donate to Pakistan. Pakistan has earned for itself such a bad reputation. The most striking fact is the silence of China. They have donated just for the sake and was very particular to send it early to make an impression. USA and the rest of West ( the bad men ) have actually donated the most. India can help but that help is not to be accepted. That is why i say these people are suffering because they are Pakistanis. This appears like an inevitable dance of death and disease in the lower Indus. And still aid should be accepted selectively.