UN flash appeal for Pakistan flood affectees facing lacklustre response
September 24, 2022 05:38 PM
As many as 25 days have gone by since the flash appeal for $160 million was issued by the United Nations for the Pakistan flood affectees, but the country still has not got even half of the amount from foreign countries, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
According to diplomatic sources, the UN flash appeal is facing a slowdown in the funds' flow and the world body has failed to accelerate the process. The UN has not even been provided with a review report on the damages caused by the floods. The world body could only hold the Global Donors Conference on the basis of this report.
The delay in the submission of the review report is the real cause behind the delay in the holding of Global Donors Moot, sources revealed adding that improvement in international funds was possible only when the report on flood damages would be presented at the donors' conference.
Sources further said that the UN member countries would be briefed about the flood ravages on Oct 4 in New York. After the briefing, the UN will issue a new flash appeal for the rehabilitation ad reconstruction efforts in flood affected areas of Pakistan.
On Aug 31, the UN and Pakistan made a joint flash appeal after an initial emergency response. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made $160 million urgent appeal to help the country cope with catastrophic floods.
In response to the UN appeal, the foreign countries announced $150 million donations out of which Pakistan has received $59.4 million so far – which is even less than half of the pledged assistance.
Diplomatic sources said that neighbouring India has demonstrated an extreme kind of apathy in this regard as it has not provided any assistance.
However, America, Australia, Denmark and Britain responded immediately in the wake of calamitous floods.
The UN has 222 donor countries but only 10 donor countries have sent donations for flood-hit Pakistan so far.
America has provided flood assistance to the tune of Rs9.33 billion; Australia Rs878 million; Central Emergency Response Fund Rs2.33 billion; Canada Rs829 million; Demark Rs446 million; Britain Rs252 million; Sweden Rs189 million; and Germany Rs13 million.
Reporter Mohsinul Mulk