Pakistan aid effort in jeopardy with massive funding shortfall

The aid agencies, including World Vision, also said Thursday that the plight of Pakistani people and ways to alleviate their suffering must be first on the agenda when top EU officials meet Pakistan\'s President Asif Ali Zardari for the first-ever EU-Pakistan summit on 17 June in Brussels.

One month on from the start of its emergency response, World Vision has only received a fraction of the $13 million it needs to reach 300,000 of the displaced people taking refuge in host communities in Buner, Swabi and Mardan districts. Some agencies risk having to downsize their relief programmes or close altogether if funding isn’t received soon.

While we wait for funds, vulnerable people are struggling to meet their very basic needs "Pakistani families are sharing their homes, food, clothes and water with those fleeing violence. They are poor already and are making themselves poorer in the process," said Graham Strong, World Vision Pakistan\'s Country Director. "We urgently need funding in order to scale-up our response and prevent a greater humanitarian crisis. While we wait for funds, vulnerable people are struggling to meet their very basic needs."

World Vision’s assessment of the crisis found people are in great need of improved health services, hygiene, education, water, shelter and sanitation facilities.

The organisation will soon receive food and US$398,000 cash from the World Food Programme, which will benefit 195,000 people in Mardan district until December, but World Vision has not yet received any other funding through the UN funding mechanism.

With limited private donations, the agency has been able to reach 3,500 people with health kits, mattresses and essential household items.

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*Agencies include ActionAid, CAFOD/Caritas, Care, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision.