International aid agencies warn they are running short of money and supplies to help millions of people affected by floods in Pakistan.
The statement was issued on Wednesday by the United Nations and several other aid groups, including Oxfam, Save the Children, Care and ACTED.
The U.N. says it has only raised $96.5 million of the $357 million six-month appeal it issued in September. It says relief supplies will run out in weeks without more money.
American charities say they haven’t raised nearly what they need to help Pakistan’s flood victims.
Aid workers report that they are being forced to decide which assistance programs are most urgent, scale back plans to serve more people, and close clinics ahead of schedule because they lack sufficient cash.
As millions of people displaced by flooding in Pakistan seek shelter, food, clean water, medical care, and other basic necessities, GuideStar USA, Inc. -- the leading source of nonprofit information -- urges donors to consider making unrestricted gifts to the disaster-relief charities now in Pakistan, or to give to the organizations' general disaster-relief funds rather than earmarking donations for Pakistan. "People want to help," said Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of GuideStar. "They want to help the people they see on television and read about in the newspapers, and they want to help now. We applaud their generosity and
How much will Americans end up donating to the Haitian earthquake relief efforts? If past disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami provide guidance for today’s efforts, the result is likely to be in the billions.
New York, July 21, 2009 — Here’s a real sunshine story! Started June 1, 2009, for every SUNNAN solar-powered lamp sold in IKEA stores worldwide, one lamp will be given to UNICEF to light up the life of a child.
GENEVA, June 18, 2009, Associated Press — Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have donated $1 million to the U.N. refugee agency providing aid to hundreds of thousands uprooted by violence in Pakistan.
