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Global aid falls short of Pakistan's relief needs

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: The donations and pledges received by Pakistan for the earthquake victims from 71 countries and 159 international organisations including the U.N. and NGOs has risen to $1.246 billion.

The quake, one of the deadliest in the region in a century, killed over 53,000 persons, seriously injured 67,000 and rendered over 3.3 million homeless, a Foreign Office report said here on Tuesday.

The relief assistance includes $735.8 million pledged by various countries in cash and in the form of relief goods including tents, blankets, medicines, food, water purification systems, helicopters.

Around two dozen medical hospitals from foreign countries are operating in the affected areas. The amount pledged by U.N. and other agencies has gone up to $386 million, according to the Foreign Office.

This includes $125 million from several multinational companies from around the world, individuals, NGOs charities, individuals and money collected through the Saudi telethon.

Donors' meet

The amount however falls short of the estimated $5 billions required only for the reconstruction of the infrastructure. This figure does not take into account the money to be spent on the rehabilitation of the affected.

A conference of donor countries to assess the situation is scheduled to be held at Geneva on October 26. Pakistan said it would make a strong case for maximum possible help.

The countries which have sent in the relief goods or pledged aid include Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia. Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

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