Pakistan aid effort in jeopardy

Pakistan aid effort in jeopardy

Aid agencies face closure of projects as money fails to arrive – worst case of funding in a decade

A group of nine major international aid agencies¹ said today that their aid effort of reaching more than one million victims of the fighting in Swat valley of Pakistan was under threat due to a lack of funds. The agencies face a shortfall in excess of £26m ($42m).

World Vision faces an £7.5m ($12.1m) shortfall while Oxfam and Save the Children both face deficits of £4 million ($6 million) each.

“This is the worst funding crisis we’ve faced in over a decade for a major humanitarian emergency,” said Oxfam’s Jane Cocking.

“Some 2.5 million people have fled their homes. One month into this emergency, Oxfam is £4 million short and will have to turn our backs on some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

“In the same period after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, we had £14m committed from the UN, governments and the public.”

UN appeal

The funding crisis is not affecting the agencies alone. The UN’s $543m appeal has only received $138m so far. This is a 75 percent shortfall. Out of the 52 organisations requesting UN appeal funds, 30 have received no funds at all.

The vast majority of the funds the UN appeal has received came before the recent outpouring of people from the Swat valley, which swelled the number of displaced from 500,000 to 2.5 million people in early May, the largest internal displacement of people in Pakistan’s history.

Since May, rich countries have contributed a mere $50m to the UN appeal, a minuscule nine percent of the total required.

Health risks

“With monsoon rains due by July, serious health risks will increase as water sources become contaminated and sanitation worsens,” said Merlin’s Carolyn Miller.

“At a time when the risks of malaria, respiratory infection and diarrhoea start to escalate, agencies will be forced to close down our programmes.

“The only reason we haven’t faced a massive humanitarian meltdown is the generosity of families and communities of modest means who’ve looked after the vast majority of those who’ve fled the fighting. With so many mouths to feed, these communities will soon be running on empty.

“The world’s richest nations need to dig much deeper into their pockets to help.”

World Vision's response

One month on from the start of its emergency response, World Vision has only received a fraction of the $13 million it needs to reach 300,000 of the displaced people taking refuge in host communities in Buner, Swabi and Mardan districts.

World Vision’s assessment of the crisis found people are in great need of improved health services, hygiene, education, water, shelter and sanitation facilities. The humanitarian agency will soon receive food and $398,000 cash from the World Food Programme, which will benefit 195,000 people in Mardan district until December. The agency has received no other funding through the UN funding mechanism.

With limited private donations, the agency has been able to reach 3,500 people with health kits, mattresses and essential household items.

11 June 2009

^{1 ActionAid, CAFOD/Caritas, Care, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, World Vision}