ISLAMABAD, July 27: The relief operation in cyclone and flood affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan is likely to be scaled down with the United Nations agencies left with money only to continue operation in the area for another week or so and little donations coming in because of poor donor response to the $38 million flash appeal by the global body.
As of Thursday only 14 per cent of the appeal launched almost a week back in Geneva had been funded, with most of the money coming from UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) that has provided some $4.5 million. With only $2.7 million committed by international donors, the UN’s appeal practically stands 7 per cent funded by external donors.
The appeal focusing on early recovery, shelter, health and water and sanitation was prepared to meet needs for three months. The response to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appeal for $17.3 million for the affected areas has not been enthusiastic either as so far only $5 million has been provided.
The donors’ apathy looks particularly disturbing when seen from the perspective of the challenges still confronting the victims in the affected areas.
Haris Khalique of Strengthening Participatory Organisation fears humanitarian crisis if enough funds are not provided.
UN Resident Coordinator Jan Vandemoortele, after his visit to the affected areas, told Dawn that although things were moving on the ground there were still serious challenges concerning public health and early recovery that cannot be under- estimated.
Mr Vandemoortele hoped more money would be coming in a week’s time when donors sit to review the situation. Commenting on the response, the UN official, said looking at the record it does look slow, but there are some pledges in the pipe-line, which if taken into account the situation would look a bit better.
National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Gen Farooq believes the donors prefer bilateral funding instead of contributing to the UN system.
CAUSES: Aid workers contend the poor response of the UN appeal has been primarily because of the delay in the launch. The appeal was launched almost three weeks after cyclone Yemyin struck the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan and floods ravaged vast area of both the provinces.
Mr Vandemoortele while explaining the delay said the UN agencies initially relied on the funds provided from the CERF and decided to first undertake assessment of the damages.
Secondly, the aid workers say, the disaster did not get due coverage in the media, which was then focused on the Lal Masjid crisis. “The world could not be told the miseries of the people of flood hit regions of Sindh and Balochistan.” Moreover, they claim the whole issue of appeal was not appropriately coordinated and handled by the UN itself.
Some also hold the government responsible for the poor response saying it did not fully back the appeal.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported increase in cases of water-borne disease acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and respiratory infection in the flood affected districts of Sindh and Balochistan.
Skin diseases due to poor hygiene such as general rashes, scabies, as well myriad eye diseases, including conjunctivitis, were also on the rise.
Over a million children are at risk of infectious diseases. The Unicef says of the 2.5 million people affected by the floods, three-quarters were women and children, with over 500,000 children, who are under five, being particularly vulnerable.
