Aid arrives, but too slowly, says UN

GENEVA: International aid is starting to arrive for flood-hit Pakistan, but too slowly for relief agencies which are running out of resources to deal with the disaster that has hit millions, according to UN agencies.

“After the appeal of the Secretary General of the UN, which seems to have been heard, we are moving in the right direction... donors, the international community is being mobilised,” said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Tuesday.

The appeal for $460 million launched on Aug 11 by the United Nations has received 35 per cent of required financing, she said, adding that it had reached just 20 per cent on Monday morning.

However, the $161 million received so far was far from sufficient to cope with the historic floods which, according to Pakistani authorities. had directly affected 14 million people in the south Asian country.

“There is progress, but that does not mean that it is perfect,” said Ms Byrs, noting for instance that only 13 per cent of required funding for health provisions had been met.

The World Food Programme warned that “food stock for September is under significant pressure”.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), Marco Jimenez, said a lack of funds would lead to a delay in assistance, which in turn could lead to “an increased risk of a new wave of deaths caused by waterborne diseases”.—AFP