Pakistan wants more flood money as Rs.5 bn lies unutilised
September 19th, 2011 - 3:22 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, Sep 19 (IANS) Pakistan has appealed for international assistance following floods in Sindh province even as Rs.5 billion that it collected for flood victims last year lies unutilised, a media report said.
Floods in Sindh have left about 250 dead, impacted over seven million people and caused extensive damage.
Dawn said that the government has launched an appeal for $356 million assistance for flood-hit people even though it has not utilised Rs.5 billion collected for flood victims last year.
Islamabad was reluctant to release the amount for relief and rescue operation despite efforts made by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
In 2010, Pakistan was hit by an unprecedented flood, which claimed over 2,000 lives and affected some 20 million people.
Former NDMA chairman Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed said an amount of Rs.5 billion was not used and it was lying with the government due to bureaucratic hitches.
“I brought the issue to the knowledge of decision-makers but the funds were not released,” Ahmed was quoted as saying.
Pakistan now wants $33 million so that it can be spent on water and sanitation, food and shelter.
- 'Foreign aid for flood-hit Pakistan inadequate' - Sep 27, 2011
- Over 300 killed, 6 million affected in Pakistan floods - Sep 18, 2011
- Pakistan floods: Toll rises to 412 - Sep 25, 2011
- China to give $5 million more for Pakistan's flood victims - Oct 07, 2011
- 88 dead in Pakistan floods - Sep 05, 2011
- UN appeals for $356 million to help flood-hit Pakistan - Sep 18, 2011
- Eight mn fake tablets detected in Pakistan - Sep 27, 2011
- UNICEF seeks $50mn for flood-hit Pakistani kids - Oct 13, 2011
- 209 dead in floods in Pakistan's Sindh - Sep 12, 2011
- Pakistan floods hit crucial crops - Oct 08, 2011
- UNHCR seeks $33 mn for Pakistan flood victims - Sep 21, 2011
- UAE launches $100 mn project for Pakistan's flood hit - Jan 14, 2011
- Stocks run out in Pakistan's flood-hit areas: UN - Oct 30, 2011
- Four mn Pakistan children face risk of hunger - Sep 30, 2011
- 10 killed in Pakistan bus accident (Lead) - Sep 06, 2011
Tags: bn, dawn, decision makers, disaster management, flood victims, floods, hitches, international assistance, islamabad, management authority, money, nadeem ahmed, national disaster, ndma, pakistan, water and sanitation