British, Swiss raise millions for Pakistan

LONDON/ISLAMABAD: The British public has given 29 million pounds in aid to Pakistan, charity officials said Monday.

After a slow start blamed on a lack of awareness of the crisis, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which coordinates humanitarian appeals from a dozen charities, said donations from the public were growing.

"This is a tragedy unfolding in slow motion with new areas still being flooded and the threat of deadly water-borne diseases stalking millions of survivors," said DEC chief executive Brendan Gormley.

British Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said last week the government was doubling its emergency aid for Pakistan to more than 64 million pounds.

Switzerland raises more than $15 million

Switzerland stepped up its emergency aid contributions for flood victims in Pakistan, with more than $15.3 million donation.

Six disaster management experts have been sent to the crisis regions by the Swiss humanitarian aid unit (SHA).

The Swiss Solidarity foundation held a national fundraising day for the benefit of the flood victims where more than 16 million Swiss Francs ($15.3 million) were collected. Throughout the fundraising day, 500 volunteers, including former Swiss Presidents Ruth Dreifuss and Adolf Ogi, collected donation from the Swiss people.

According to the Swiss Embassy's sources in Islamabad, the Swiss Government is also responding to appeals by the UN and the ICRC. Swiss contributions to the UN World Food Programme have reached one million Swiss Francs, while those to the ICRC have risen to three million Swiss Francs.

Four SHA experts and two delegates of the Swiss Red Cross have arrived in Pakistan and will prepare the ground for medium-term projects.