Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Flood aid flowing slowly to desperate Pakistan
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Flood aid flowing slowly to desperate Pakistan
AFP - 2 hours 36 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Flood aid flowing slowly to desperate Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - – Flood-ravaged Pakistan said it has received international aid of 300 million dollars but the flow of money remained slow, and survivors lashed out at Islamabad for failing to move faster to help.
Torrential monsoon rain triggered catastrophic floods which have affected 20 million people in three weeks, wiping out villages, farmland, infrastructure and killing at least 1,400 people in the nation's worst natural disaster.
The United Nations last week launched an immediate appeal for 460 million dollars, but it said Tuesday that funding so far was just 40 percent of the target and aid agencies are calling for pledges to be turned into cash.
Zamir Akram, Pakistan's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said the country had received more immediate multilateral relief aid through the UN and direct bilateral aid totalling about 301 million dollars (235 million euros).
The World Bank also agreed Tuesday to give Islamabad a 900-million-dollar loan, warning that the disaster's impact on the economy was expected to be "huge" and likely to take years to put right. Related article:Pakistan facing economic catastrophe
A string of nations ranging from Afghanistan and Turkey to the United States and Saudi Arabia have pledged millions in cash and relief as the UN warned more money was needed to stave off a "second wave of death" from disease and food shortages.
But flood survivors crammed into sweltering tent cities or camping out along roadsides have hit out furiously against Pakistan's weak civilian government for not doing enough.
Britain, which is emerging from a diplomatic row with Pakistan, branded the aid effort "lamentable" and charities said Pakistan was suffering from an "image deficit" partly because of perceived links to terror.
The nuclear-armed country is on the frontline of the US-led fight against Al-Qaeda, where the military is locked in battle with Taliban in the northwest on the border with Afghanistan.
Embattled President Asif Ali Zardari is due in Russia Wednesday for a regional security summit with Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
He is expected to fly in to the Black Sea resort of Sochi for only a few hours after facing heavy criticism at home for failing to cut short a visit to Europe to tackle the crisis.
Zardari has told aid agencies it would take years to recover from what he called "the worst calamity of the world history".
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has also warned that the disaster could play into the hands of insurgents.
"We don't know what impact it's having on the insurgents... the idea that this flood would essentially come on top of a very corrosive insurgency is extremely worrisome," said US ambassador to Islamabad, Anne Patterson.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it fears Pakistan is on the brink of a "second wave of death" unless more funds materialise, with up to 3.5 million children at risk from water-borne diseases.
Islamabad has confirmed around 1,400 deaths, but WHO representative Guido Sabatinelli said he suspected the toll was much higher.
"In any case it will be much higher but it's difficult to predict. We're talking about 20 million people affected today and there is no infrastructure and no health centres that can register the deaths," he told AFP.
About six million people are deemed to be at risk of deadly water-borne diseases, with typhoid, hepatitis and cholera major concerns.
"Two million dollars are needed every day to provide water, this is not sustainable. We don't have two million dollars a day," said Daniel Toole, the regional director for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
"I would ask urgently the international community to change pledges into cheques. We need an urgent effort," he said.
Akram said reconstruction in northern areas alone could cost 2.5 billion dollars and said the floods had ravaged an area "the size of England."
Experts have urged the government to move quickly, warning that the masive economic losses could fan unemployment and social unrest.
Agriculture accounts for 20 percent of Pakistan's gross domestic product.
"The peasants are our lifeline, so by not helping them we are in fact committing suicide," Ibrahim Mughal, who heads the independent Agri Forum organisation, told AFP.
UNICEF estimates that over 5,500 schools and 1,300 health centres have been either damaged or destroyed and that nearly 5,000 schools are now housing displaced families.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Thailand blocks access to WikiLeaks website AFP - 16 minutes ago
U.N. says secured more Pakistan flood relief funds Reuters - 50 minutes ago
US report 'not beneficial' for military ties: China AFP - 56 minutes ago
Australia's Labor to scrape back into power Reuters - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
Outrage in Philippines over police torture video AFP - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Michael Douglas cancer fight, halts Hong Kong trip
Most US students think Beethoven is a dog
US must support flagging housing market: Geithner
S.Korea archaeologists uncover 7,000-year-old oar
German investment sentiment slumps
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Most US students think Beethoven is a dog
Tearful German pop star confesses in HIV trial
S.Korea archaeologists uncover 7,000-year-old oar
Court blocks California gay marriage
Eight killed, 12 injured in California desert race
More Most Viewed »
Obama endorses mosque plan near Ground Zero
40 US billionaires pledge half wealth to charity
Visitors attack Taiwan 'haunted house' actors
Calcium supplements linked to heart attacks: study
Massive ice island breaks off Greenland glacier
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 Two blasts rock Russia's Caucasus region
India rachets up pressure on BlackBerry
US must support flagging housing market: Geithner
Florida teachers warned not to 'friend' students online
S.Korea archaeologists uncover 7,000-year-old oar
German investment sentiment slumps
India says may drag US to WTO over visa fee hike
Big B's Shoot Ad At 'Serene And Pious' Sabarmati Ashram
Russia halves fires area as weather chills
Canada's Potash rejects $38 bln offer from BHP
British inflation eases to 3.1%
India to reprieve some BlackBerry services
Soccer Star David Beckham's Sister On Welfare
Man shot after rushing Turkish embassy
|
UAE, Blackberry may soon resolve spat: diplomats
"Jersey Shore's" Snooki Gets Denied A Trademark
U.S. neighborhood bookstores thrive in digital age
Sandra Bullock's Ex Jesse James Linked To Kat Von D
Mel Gibson Involved In Car Crash
Wedbush initiates Google with underperform
DNA tests on chess champion's corpse exclude paternity
|
Microsoft's Kinect to hit EMEA stores Nov 10
China's telcos gear up on 3G in growth push
US urges open N.Korea in Twitter tit-for-tat
US, Vietnam step up defence co-operation amid China concerns
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
India to reprieve some BlackBerry services
|
Time-shifting on TV more than doubles in past year
Economists Seek Regulatory Changes to U.S. Mortgage Industry
Sony Playstation 3 to come with more memory
|
Taiwan parliament approves China trade pact
Cancer Costs World Economy Nearly $1 Trillion Per Year
William Shatner reinvents TV image with new shows
July Factory Output Rise Higher Than Expectation
Sen Kerry: Karzai must fight graft or lose support
"Real Housewives Of New Jersey" Danielle Staubs Reacts To Rumors Of Being Fired
Singer Erykah Badu gets probation for stripping
SC Mother Admits To Killing Children; Unemployment, Stress Among Motives
Geeks on a bad streak at box office
Anti-War Protester Charged After Attacking Sen. Levin With Pie
Two Parents Arrested For Starving Their Autistic Boy
Study Suggests Marriage Reduces Stress
Gay couples have equal inheritance rights: top German court
Brazilian Waxing Another Disturbing Adult Procedure For Children
Was James Bond just a "neo-fascist gangster?"
More Than One Million American Kids Misdiagnosed With ADHD
Hip-hop stars diversifyin' to stay rich: report
|
Time-shifting on TV more than doubles in past year
|
Singer Erykah Badu gets probation for stripping
|
William Shatner reinvents TV image with new shows
|
Spike Lee film shows New Orleans 5 years after storm
|
Geeks on a bad streak at box office
|
Russia hosts Karzai, Zardari for Afghan summit
U.N. says secured more Pakistan flood relief funds
|
British gov't enjoys political honeymoon 100 days on
US-TECH Summary
Dozens missing after landslide in southwest China
|
Most US students think Beethoven is a dog
Man shot after rushing Turkey's Israel embassy
Romania orders tit-for-tat expulsion of Russian diplomat
Groupon expands to Japan and Russia
FACTBOX
Chavez signs law barring Venezuela brokers from fx, govt debt
|
Two blasts rock Russia's Caucasus region
Bing starts powering searches in US
Sony Playstation 3 to come with more memory
59 die in suicide attack on Iraq army recruitment centre
Haiti commission earmarks $1.6 bln for recovery
|
US Congress letter stirs 'net neutrality' debate
Taiwan parliament approves landmark China trade deal
|
Israeli ex-soldier defends 'shameful' Facebook snaps
Australia's Labor to scrape back into power
|
WikiLeaks gets new host -- Swedish pirates
Bomber kills 57 Iraq army recruits
NATO soldiers among dozens killed in Afghan unrest
Sony Playstation 3 to come with more memory
US report 'not beneficial' for military ties: China
Australia's Labor to scrape back into power
Outrage in Philippines over police torture video
Dozens missing in latest China mudslides
US singer Erykah Badu fined for public nudity
US to support UN Myanmar war crimes inquiry
Blagojevich guilty on one count, faces retrial
Bond writers take on international action thriller
Bodies found after boat sinks in Southern Ocean
Rocker John Mellencamp likens Internet to A-bomb
|
Court says US-Colombia base deal unconstitutional
Leaked "Vampires Suck" hits 100,000 downloads
35 dead in Philippine bus accident
Cuba's first transsexual in the spotlight
Haiti waits to hear if Wyclef Jean can run for president
Flood aid flowing slowly to desperate Pakistan
Groupon expands to Japan and Russia
|
Foxconn holds morale-boosting exercise in China
NY Governor to discuss relocating Muslim center
To US students Beethoven's a dog, Michelangelo a virus
Aircraft crash in China 'could be N.Korea chopper'
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
Windows 7 mobile phones will link to Xbox 360 consoles
PlayStation 3 memory beefed up in North America
50 years after Beatles' first gig, Hamburg pays tribute
S.Korean bonds fall early on U.S. lead
Korea Hot Stocks
Seoul shares edge up led by LG Elec, Kia
China to loan Ecuador one billion dollars
Indian energy giant may counter Vedanta
Vietnam devalues currency 2.1 percent
North Korea says it has joined Twitter, YouTube
Rocker John Mellencamp likens Internet to A-bomb
|
Taiwan's legislature approves China trade pact
Leaked Vampires Suck hits 100,000 downloads
|
Bond writers take on international action thriller
|
Outsourcing boss 'wins bail' in giant fraud case
Last Palestinian tied to 1972 Munich attack dies
Michael Douglas cancer fight, halts Hong Kong trip
Security firm ban could affect Afghan aid: officials
|
Dates or oil? Iraq's farmers fear gold rush
UAE talks with BlackBerry 'making progress'
Taliban prison said found in Afghanistan, 27 freed
|
Kidnapped Mexican mayor found dead: reports
|
China Voices Opposition To Pentagon Report, Calls Relations Important
S.Korea's KT Corp website jams on iPhone preorders
Karzai says Afghanistan needs Russia's support
|
Embassy 'hostage taker' is ex-Israeli informer: lawyer
Afghans to shut 900 polling centers on security fears
|
Fighter Jets Deployed Around Obama's Seattle Event
Taliban attack Afghan official's home, killing 2
More than 1 million South Africa state workers strike
|
Finance Worker Arrested For Allegedly Ejaculating Into Coworker's Water Bottle
Anti-US protest blocks highway in east Afghanistan
Stevens To Be Laid To Rest Wednesday
Haiti electoral body postpones ruling on candidates
|
Hundreds of Millions of Eggs Recalled Over Salmonella Fears
Japan analysing damage to tanker in Hormuz Strait
World War Two bomb shuts part of Milan airport
|
Backstreet Boys And New Kids On The Block Collaborating On Joint Tour
Chocolate May Reduce Heart Failure Risk
Indian school collapse kills 18 children
White House: Deadline For Pulling U.S. Troops From Afghanistan 'Non-Negotiable'
Levi's new brand targets Asia's middle class youth
Cougar Town's First Season Out on DVD Today
Maroon 5 Singer Adam Levine Gets Into Fashion Retail
Australian leaders face voters in pre-election forum
Thailand tries to block WikiLeaks website
People magazine iPad app delayed by paparazzi
Gambling hub Macau to hold pop culture auction
Thai court to rule on Russian 'arms dealer': lawyer
Lindsay Lohan faces grim career options
N.Korea producing badges of heir apparent: report
Rocker John Mellencamp likens Internet to A-bomb
US opposes use of force in South China Sea dispute
N.Korea sought summit after warship sinking: report
People magazine iPad app delayed by paparazzi
|
`Eat Pray Love' star Julia Roberts happy as is
Dell CEO gets fewest investor votes in election
|
Malaysian economy surges 8.9% in second quarter
NZ home affordability improves in July
Q+A-Pakistan refinancing risks after floods
Pakistani stocks up; rupee, o/n rates flat
Asian markets close mixed despite bright US data
iPhone preorders jam S.Korea website
E-commerce sales in China surge
Everbright Bank shines in Shanghai market debut
Taiwan dollar flat; cbank move offsets risk appeal
Vedanta willing to relocate controversial India mine
Lindsay Lohan faces grim career options
|
People magazine iPad app delayed by paparazzi
|
CBS, Reliance Broadcast start Indian TV network
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights