The Hindu : International : Nations fail to keep tsunami pledges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

International

International

Nations fail to keep tsunami pledges

By John Vidal

LONDON, FEB. 8. Almost two-thirds of the money promised by Governments to help the millions of people affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami has not yet been received by the U.N., confirming the fear that many countries would try to wriggle out of their commitments.

Margareta Wahlstrom, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special envoy, said the U.N.'s appeal for an urgent $977 million to fund the first six months of emergency relief work had been met mostly by written commitments, and only $360 million had so far been received. Speaking yesterday in Geneva, Ms. Wahlstrom urged Governments to pay up.

``This is our key message to Government donors: please convert your pledges into hard cash in the bank,'' she said. "It's only cash in the bank that makes it possible to do work on the ground''.

British charities, which have been overwhelmed by the public response, amounting so far to £250 million, were shocked by the inaction of the Governments. Ms. Wahlstrom praised Governments for being generous with money for food, health and children, but accused them of not finding the cash for reconstruction.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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