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4 million homeless in Pakistan floods; U.S. to boost aid
By: cnn.comPosted On: 08/19/2010 4:16 P
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Floods in Pakistan have left more than 4 million people homeless, the United Nations said Thursday, as the U.S. plans to announce more funds for relief efforts.
Floods in Pakistan have left more than 4 million people homeless, the United Nations said Thursday, as the U.S. plans to announce more funds for relief efforts.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Washington plans to boost aid to the nation by $150 million to prevent an increase of Islamist extremism amid the crisis.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will announce the increased aid later Thursday, Kerry said.
The latest number of homeless was double an earlier estimate of 2 million, prompting an urgent effort to secure more funds.
About a fifth of the country is submerged by floodwaters, and the threat of water-borne diseases such as cholera is a serious concern as families wade through chest-high, filthy water.
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"We have decided to increase the number of targeted beneficiaries for tents and plastic sheeting, from the initial figure of 2 million, to at least 6 million," said Maurizio Giuliano, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has pledged to ensure relief funds end up in the right hands.
However, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he believes more international aid is not streaming in because people want more transparency from the government. He proposed establishing an independent coalition to work on aid distribution.
The United Nations said it has received less than half of the $460 million it needs for relief efforts. Despite millions of dollars in support from other countries, the flow of aid is failing to keep pace with the need.
Analysts have attributed slow aid flow to governments suffering from "donor fatigue" with Pakistan.
For years, Pakistan has been on a seemingly constant round of donor needs -- money to revive its feeble economy, fight the Taliban, recover from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2009 refugee crisis.
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