by Jibran Khan

Almost US$ 60 million have not been spent. Reconstruction in affected provinces remains at a standstill because of a turf war between federal and local authorities. In Sindh province, hundreds of villages are still under water.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) – Mismanagement and misuse of cash are hampering relief efforts for Pakistan’s flood victims. As winter sets in, more than 6.8 million people are still in need of emergency shelter and could die if nothing is done. Government officials say efforts to rebuild 1.6 million homes are being compromised by infighting between federal and provincial authorities over relief funds. Nearly US$ 60 million of foreign aid in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s aid fund are still unspent.

“Once a decision is taken at the highest level it must be done — but it doesn’t get done,” a top Pakistani official told AsiaNews on condition of anonymity.

Villages and fields in huge swaths of the southern province of Sindh remain underwater. In the village of Gul Mohammad Chandio (Dadu District), entire families have been living for months in makeshift tents, waiting for government aid.

“We’re very worried about our income because our land is under water. Nobody has helped us,” said 45-year-old Noel John, who returned to his home with seven children to find a pile of rubble.

UN officials have complained about a lack of international financial support for Pakistan, blaming it partly on the government’s poor reputation for mismanagement and corruption.

Foreign donors have stumped up just half of a UN appeal target of US$ 1.93 billion, sparking fears for 6.8 million who need emergency shelter as winter sets in, whilst farmland could remain flooded for another six months.

Despite crippling debts, the federal government insists on doling out the money itself to rebuild schools and hospitals, and has asked donors to contribute only to a cash fund, rather than offer infrastructure assistance.

In a cash compensation scheme, 1.6 million of the worst-off families should each receive more than 85,450 rupees to rebuild their homes using an electronic card system.

The United States has been quick to endorse the fund, but the World Bank has refused to back the scheme until the fund is made more transparent and accountable. In fact, there have been widespread reports of problems with the cash-card system.

“We have reports of people not knowing how to use the cash cards, machines not having any cash, not having any power. There have been issues of access . . . it’s a significant issue,” Oxfam media officer Amil Khan said.

General Nadeem Ahmed, head of the National Disaster Management Authority that coordinates flood relief, said he had “strong reservations” over the plan because there is no system in place to oversee home rebuilding.

Of the 1.6 million homes earmarked for construction, he said 400,000 needed to be built elsewhere to avoid flood plains and fault lines in the earthquake-prone country.

• pakistan
• floods
• winter
• reconstruction
• relief
• corruption