World community pledges $889m

ISLAMABAD: The international community has so far pledged $889.58 million in assistance for the people displaced by the floods in Pakistan.

Of this amount, different countries and organisations have released $142.47 million while $747.10 million are yet to be disbursed. The United Nations has announced $412.84 million for the cause.

According to government documents, out of the announced assistance Saudi Arabian government, Saudi Relief Fund and Saudi Development Fund are providing $230,000 while the US government and USAID are releasing $157.8 million. Britain and its international development programme are disbursing $115 million.

Other countries which have announced flood relief contributions included Afghanistan which is providing $1 million, Asian Development Bank $3 million, Algeria $3 million, Belgium $310,000, Brazil $500,000, Bangladesh $33 million, Azerbaijan $1 million, Egypt $250,000, Czech Republic $80,000, China $9 million, European Union $89 million, Finland $5.67 million, France $1.34 million, Greece $100,000, Germany $37.5 million, Hungary $50,000, Italy $5 million, Iran $14.44 million, Ireland $1 million, India $5.1 million, Indonesia $1 million, Korea $1 million, Korea’s private sector $1 million, Kuwait $10 million, Kuwait Joint Relief Committee $350,000, Luxembourg $640,000, Mauritius $300,000, Morocco $2 million, the Netherlands $3.8 million, New Zealand $2.8 million, Nepal $130,000, Norway $19 million, Jordan $5 million, Opec Fund $500,000, Poland $60,000, Qatar $400,000, Singapore $1 million, Spain $1.3 million, Sri Lanka $50,000, Sweden $1.21 million, Switzerland $3.9 million, Thailand $80,000, Turkey $13 million and World Bank $1.3 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2010.