Why have we abandoned the people of Pakistan?

Nicole says:

12:40pm | 19/08/10

This is absolutely horrible. It’s heart wrenching watching all these people suffer like they are. They’re displaced, very little food and water (if any), the children and the elderly, wading through diseased riddled water, no where to sleep, family and friends missing, it’s just devastating. Thanks for the link where to donate Lucy. That’s what I’m going to do right now.

shane says:

12:42pm | 19/08/10

Maybe its partly because of donor fatigue as many say. Given the constant stream of disasters over the last few years.

Perhaps there’s a growing atmosphere of insular concentration on problems at home also. Europe in financial meltdown, US facing possible double dip recession with unemployment still high.

Middle east are too busy ranting about religion and American imperialism.

East Asia as always completely self obssessed. Half of China is underwater itself from news reports.

Australia is dealing with an election.

There are so many monumental world problems, from health to envionment, to economics to human rights, etc etc etc.

I think the first world is to busy dealing with its own problems. America seems barely capable of even supporting its own population (given the struggle to extend payments to their own starving unemployed, let alone helping 10s of millions of people on the other side of the world.

Or maybe I’ve no idea what I’m talking about.

N says:

01:05pm | 19/08/10

Well I look at it like this; a good majority of Asia is densely, some would say over populated and the majority of that population is living in 3rd world conditions. There own governments can’t cope to adequately provide services due to the sheer numbers, and when these events happen (and there have been a remarkable amount in this region over the past 10 years), they turn to the global community for aid, who I suspect are tired of putting their hands in their pockets once again.

I think people, myself included, would be much less apathetic if these governments made an effort to look after their own citizens welfare in the first place. This doesn’t have to be in financial form, but how about simple measures, such as not allowing construction on flood plains? China have set a precedent with their family planning policy, something I think 3rd world countries globally should adopt in an attempt to re-vitalise their economies in order to pull out of the 3rd world status. We see devastating floods in Pakistan on the news annually; it just happens that this event is significantly worse. I suspect the majority of people see this event as “just another flood in Pakistan”. Sad but true.

nic says:

01:58pm | 19/08/10

Donating to a country that has deliberately consumed /re-directed aid and other dollars meant for flood minimisation schemes over the past ten years? To a country begging the west for aid who has elements working against our downfall? Pass.

Biteme says:

02:23pm | 19/08/10

If I may please add in this debate about poor countries, the US is about to
enact laws that will curb corruption somewhat by disclosing payments from US registered mining companies to 3rd World Governments.
Right now a mining company can say they paid $5 for the gold, when really they paid $10, but the people on the land wouldn’t know that.
They called the provision “an essential tool” for promoting transparency in the oil and mineral sectors. “The legislation will immediately shed light on billons in payments between multinational corporations and governments, giving citizens the information they need to monitor companies and to hold governments accountable,”
This is something we are not forcing the Australian Mining companies to do while they operate in places like Africa. If we want to help poverty in Africa this is one thing we should lobby Julia about. make our mining companies transparent about how much they are paying the African and New Guinea Governments for their resources thereby giving those people a chance to get their fare share just like us.

Anna C says:

02:38pm | 19/08/10

While I feel bad for the women and children suffering in Pakistan, I refuse to donate to a country which established/funds the Taliban and harbours Al Qaeda terrorists like Osama Bin Laden.  It is a well known fact that the Pakistani arny established, trained and funded the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan; while at the same time accepting money from the Americans to fight the “war on terror”.  Why should I feed tomorrow’s terrorist?

Bethany says:

04:52pm | 19/08/10

Pakistan maintains a significant nuclear weapons stockpile but has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty so its nuclear facilities are not under IAEA safeguards. And, just last year, it signed a deal with China to purchase at least 36 advanced fighter jets worth US$1.4bn. It seems to me that any country with a multi-billion dollar defence budget whose population remains mired in poverty needs to reassess its priorities.

Gregg says:

07:27pm | 19/08/10

Politics and terrorism aside, there are so many people, elderly grandparents, great grandparents too no doubt, babies and probably plenty of disabled people as well that will be suffering immensely and in danger of dying.
Though helicopters and boats are probably in limited supply, perhaps that is what Pakistan should be calling for and have all people who need to be moved, moved to higher ground and Pakistani families all over the country should take in a guest family for as long as it takes for the waters to recede and it is safe for people to return and they will still need help.

stephen says:

07:40pm | 19/08/10

National Geographic reckons flooding in Pakistan has damaged so much of the country because of poor farming practises. Specifically, their insistence on levies, which then overflow from rain. I’ve never been there, but i assumed it was a desert land.
If the Pakistanis don’t blame their own negligence, or blame their God, perhaps they could then blame ours.

Robert S McCormick says:

07:54pm | 19/08/10

These “alleged” 3rd World countries have only themselves to blame. Practically ever time they have had a disaster, floods,earthquakes, etc. the rest of the world has rushed to their aid with billions of dollars in cold,hard, cash. After a relatively short time we hear that most of that cash has been spirited away by politicians,bureaucrats & other people of influence. The money NEVER actually reaches those it is intended for. We are also told that equipment, medical supplies, food & other aid simply disappear into the hands of the politicians,bureaucrats & others.
Maybe it is that just now the people who for generations have been so generous have, unluckily for Pakistan,decided that “Enough is Enough”. Unless the Government of Pakistan can, will, does & PROVES Guarantee that every cent, every bit of equipment & supplies will go to those in need it should come as no surprise to them if the aid is not forthcoming.
We are told that to create Nuclear Weapons is not an expensive undertaking.Despite the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Pakistan, just like that other “alleged” 3rd World country, India, has, despite also the widespread & appalling poverty & living conditions of their people, developed a full-scale Nuclear Weapon Capability. Why? No-one is threatening them with a Nuclear Attack.
How much money have Pakistan & India squandered on developing thier nuclear capability?
The hundreds of millions they have wasted could well be used to vaccinate their entire populations against every disease known to man. If long-lasting vaccinations are not, at present, available to prevent the spread of Cholera & Typhoid then Pakistan & India together with the rest of the world should spend their money on developing them. It was once said that Smallpox could never be erradicated. They were wrong. It was once said that a vaccination against Cancer of the Cervix was nothing more that a science-fiction dream. They were wrong.
Let Pakistan (& India) scrap their ever-increasing military & weapons build-up. Let Pakistan stop paying lip-service to the erradication of the Taliban & Al Qaeda and actually do so. Let the Pakistani Government get serious about it’s people, their health & welfare. If, & these countries are not averse to killing a few, just a couple of politicians, bureaucrats & people of influence are picked up for corruption, found guilty & executed the massive corruption, which even they admit is rife within their borders, will be, at least, brought under control.
As for giving to charities here in Australia I stopped long ago. Hardly surprising when you hear that out of every dollar donated as little as 8cents actually reaches those that dollar is intended for. The rest? It ends up in what they call “Administrative Costs”, smart, luxury offices,cars,airfares & hotel accommodation & huge salaries for the pen-pushers & senior managements. All that may be perfectly legal but it is nonetheless a form of corruption in that it is the misuse of OUR money for purposes we never intended it for.

Patricia says:

08:55pm | 19/08/10

Thank you Lucy for raising this issue.  I cannot believe how little attention the floods in Pakistan has been raised in the media the past few weeks.

The media has been over taken by our pathetic excuse for an election campaign.  What are the really important issues that need to be dealt with NOW!

Michael says:

12:45am | 20/08/10

Maybe part of the reason people are a little hesitant to give cash to Pakistan is because they’re just a tad worried about their dollars eventually winding up in the hands of the Pakistan secret service which is collaborating with and supplying the insurgency in Afghanistan.  Does nobody read WikiLeaks anymore?

Daniel says:

03:54am | 20/08/10

As much as I feel (I actually can’t think of an word for it) “bad” about the fact that so many innocent people are suffering, I still won’t give any money to help them (as I have done in the past with other disasters). After all these are the same people who are compliciit or at least willing to turn a blind eye to terrorists, not to mention that everytime they get the chance they are happy to label me as a racist (which lets face it we all are to one degree or another) or worse.

It seems that it maybe time for the oil rich Muslim nations to “step up to the plate”. Because the western worlds public has has had enough of being called names.

P.S. I know the above seems childish but most international relations are

Noam says:

05:53pm | 20/08/10

Seems to me that there appears to be X number of objections ot donating:

1. Pakistani government has misspent money it controls on hi-tech weaponry, to wit, nukes;
2. Pakistani government is corrupt as are the charities to which donations may be made;
3. They’re all just a bunch of terrorists not deserving of our aid.
In reply:
1. How are these two issues linked. Yes, the government has allocated funds to weapons purchases and building up a nuclear stockpile but that’s utterly irrelevant to the humanitarian need being experienced by the people. Whilst the people may have elected the government they can’t be held responsible for the government’s spending decisions. How often do a peoples mount a revolution and overthrow their government? Reverse the situation. Would you think that a refusal by Pakistani people to donate to the Victorian bushfire victims appropriate if they cited the Australian government’s decision to send troops to Afghanistan?
2. Surely there is a charity which is not corrupt and can be trusted to deliver aid in a timely fashion with minimal overhead. Do some research, assure yourself of their bona fides and ascertain whether they intend to channel aid through the Pakistani government or set up independent operations/have their operations supervised by an independent non-government authority. I would have thought that there is at least one entity which could satisfy the above requirements.
3. I don’t think this particular objection needs a response. If you want to engage in gross generalisations, thank you and good luck my wingnut space-candidate. Enjoy your fortified compound and I hope you have sufficient provisions and tradeable valuables to survive the coming apocalypse.
Even if you suffer from compassion fatigue, have opened your wallet/purse this year or are disillusioned by many of the charities I would say this. Pakistan is equipped with nuclear weapons. If we do not help its people and allow extremist groups to come in and setup effective distribution mechanisms we will be allowing the groundwork to be set for an overthrow of a Western-inclined government by an Islamic-centered political entity. I would not want to see the research (much less the weapons) surrounding its nuclear program fall into the hands of those who wish to do us harm. If the plight of the helpless does not move you then perhaps strategic self-interest will.

Davido says:

09:19pm | 20/08/10

1. there is an election or had you not you noticed?

2. a lot of people are not happy with the % of their dollar that gets through the grubby hands of a charity to the people in need. World Vision takes a minimum of 50% for administration. The CEO is rumoured to earn more than a half a million dollars a year. My guess is less than 5% of your charity dollar will get through to the needy.

3. Pakistan is on the outer. They steal nuclear technology, they placidly allow terrorism to flourish in their region. They have been a military dictatorship for much of recent history. Pakistan does not exactly present a sympathetic image.

Maybe the Saudi’s could install one less gold tap and use that money to help.

Terry says:

02:41pm | 21/08/10

Like all countries strongly influenced by Islamic culture, Pakistan is an economic basket case. And to divert attention away from there own hopeless failings and inability to admit the painful truth - they blame the west for all the problems. Well as a proud member of the “great satan” myself I wont be giving them any of my money.

Vidyut says:

09:49pm | 01/09/10

I donated twice. I’m not rich. In fact, I’m almost dysfunctionally short on money, but I could see that devastated lives were in far worse shape and needed a heck of a lot more than was going to be available. Then ashamed as I am to admit it, I regretted it deeply. I have a duty to my family. Why did I send of precious money to a country that snubbed Indian aid (I’m Indian), was heartless enough to discriminate against non-Muslims in a time when they know first hand how dire the situation is? Corruption is just one part of it. The money possibly not reaching those who need it is another. But uninterrupted infiltration of terrorists into India is still going on. Indian aid is not desired till something is done about Kashmir. I would be the first to admit that Kashmir has been badly neglected by India, but Pakistan talking to India about *human rights* in a region they have systematically unstabilized and held hostage - that too in a context of refusing aid is beyond insulting. A country that has more inflicted suffering, intolerance, victimization and sheer suppression than any other in the news is pointing fingers and being diva about RECEIVING AID? The message is clear - we would rather see our people dead than accept aid from you. So be it. Who am I to say what they do with their people? They haven’t even refused the Taliban!!!

So, I regret the money spent, and I am dead certain I don’t want to send in any more - a sentiment I see growing among people I see around me. My guess is that if they have the funding for the vitriol and covert terrorist infiltrations in India and can afford to refuse Indian aid, as an Indian, I must respect their wishes.

Its not just about why they aren’t an appealing ‘victim’, but what they do with offers that do come.