ASIA/PAKISTAN - Funds dried up, refugees at risk say Oxfam and “Justice and Peace”

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – The funds are about to end and assistance to refugees is at stake: this is the alarm raised by Oxfam in Pakistan, which recalled how, three months after the floods, only 35% of the 2 billion dollars – requested by the UN and needed to manage emergencies that affected 20 million people – has been collected.
"The lack of funds threatens the humanitarian aid and reconstruction process. The crisis is far from over," notes Neva Khan, Director of Oxfam in Pakistan. In a joint statement to Fides, Oxfam says: "The number of cases of illness increase and vast areas of the Sindh are still flooded. Furthermore, with the arrival of winter, 7 million people still lack adequate shelter." According to UN figures, 10 million refugees still need daily food aid, "but the scarcity of funds is such that even the regular food rations to 3.5 million people are at risk for running out," says Oxfam.
Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Bishops of Pakistan, told Fides: "The alert launched by Oxfam should be taken seriously. We expect that the government, carrying out the reconstruction effort, will keep the situation under control, monitoring the flow of resources and their destination. It must be said that there should be greater attention in management, transparency, fighting corruption, and ensuring that people can have confidence in the local civil authorities."
"On the other hand – says Jacob – care should be taken as the government is also involved in other domestic issues such as combating terrorism. It could happen, as occurred during the earthquake of 2005, funds for emergency and reconstruction were used for other purposes, even for military operations."
The Church in Pakistan is making a strong appeal to the sense of responsibility and consciousness of the country: "In addition to loans from external donors and international agencies, it is our responsibility to raise up this country overwhelmed by the tragedy: the government, civil society, citizens, and religious communities must all do their part." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2010)