Pakistan Assures Donor Money Will Go to Flood Victims

18 August 2010

People with pots stand in queue to get relief food at a camp for flood-affected people on the outskirts of Sukkur, southern Pakistan, 18 Aug 2010

International aid agencies are struggling to bring relief to many of the 20 million people affected by the catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan about three weeks ago.

Problems

The relief effort is being hampered by logistical problems, including the ability to reach many of the victims. The United Nations has now received more than half of the $460 million appeal it issued last week to pay for humanitarian operations over the next three months. Fifty-four percent of the target goal has been reached according to U.N. humanitarian spokesman Maurizio Giuliano.

However, media reports say Pakistan is still having difficulty attracting funds because international donors fear the money will end up in the wrong hands, a charge vehemently denied by Pakistani officials.

Guarantees

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Zamir Akram, says his government is working with International and United Nations agencies to bring relief to the Pakistani flood victims.

"So, unless somebody suspects the U.N. itself and suspects the government of Pakistan and its officials, I can guarantee that this money is going to go to the purposes it is meant for," he said.