Aid politics
One of the sadder realities of an integrating world is ‘aid politics’: donor countries and organisations are more generous in funding projects that conform to their own interests. But that this pattern is emerging in terms of the flood-relief funding coming into Pakistan deserves to be condemned.
The UN’s emergency response appeal has netted more funds for relatively long-term need projects such as communications, security and awareness-raising. Meanwhile, the appeal for critical-care projects that include emergency medical help, potable water supplies and income creation is going unheard. The three best-funded projects are the UNHCR’s protection project, the International Organisation of Migration’s mass communication project and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ coordination and advocacy project. These have received funding many times in excess of the demand. Conversely, projects in areas such as water and sanitation, reproductive health etc are grossly under-funded, with the UN’s Population Fund complaining on Wednesday that its $6m appeal for the health of mothers and babies got a mere 20 per cent response.
This is appalling. Long-term projects are required, certainly, but what the flood victims need immediately is medical help, food and water, and other such basic essentials that quite literally mean the difference between life and death. Pakistan’s appeal for aid was met by a sluggish international response and while the flow of funds picked up after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s visit, the UN said on Wednesday that it has now slowed to almost a standstill. Pakistan’s administration must shoulder its share of the blame, for it has been reported that donors are concerned about the possibility of funds being misused or misappropriated by a corrupt system. Yet that should not affect critical-need projects. The victims need immediate help. The international community’s priority should be to save lives. This is no time for aid politics.
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