Western Donations Lag for Pakistan Flood Victims

Public and private funding for the international response to Pakistan flooding has been trickling in, compared to the rush of support for Haiti following its January earthquake.

Why? Aid workers and officials at the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, say Pakistan’s reputation as a haven for the Taliban and al-Qaida, among other extremist groups, is leading some would-be Western donors to pause before offering support that experts say is desperately needed. Donors have also expressed concern over possible corruption and theft of resources, concerns that the humanitarian community is working hard to dispel.